Method for reporting channel state information in wireless communication system and apparatus for same

ABSTRACT

A method for a terminal reporting channel state information (CSI) in a wireless communication system, according to one embodiment of the present invention, comprises the steps of: receiving, from a base station, channel state information-reference signal (CSI-RS) setting information for receiving a CSI-RS resource; receiving the CSI-RS resource on the basis of the CSI-RS resource setting information; and reporting CSI generated on the basis of the CSI-RS resource to the base station, wherein when the same CSI-RS resource is set for repeated transmission for the terminal, the CSI-RS resource setting information may include indicating information relating to the location of a subcarrier on which the same CSI-RS resource is mapped.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a National Stage application under 35 U.S.C. § 371 of International Application No. PCT/KR2018/001447, filed on Feb. 2, 2018, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/543,323, filed on Aug. 9, 2017, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/454,038, filed on Feb. 2, 2017. The disclosures of the prior applications are incorporated by reference in their entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a wireless communication system and, more particularly, to a method of reporting, by a user equipment, channel state information and an apparatus therefor.

BACKGROUND ART

Mobile communication systems have been developed to provide voice services, while guaranteeing user activity. Service coverage of mobile communication systems, however, has extended even to data services, as well as voice services, and currently, an explosive increase in traffic has resulted in shortage of resource and user demand for a high speed services, requiring advanced mobile communication systems.

The requirements of the next-generation mobile communication system may include supporting huge data traffic, a remarkable increase in the transfer rate of each user, the accommodation of a significantly increased number of connection devices, very low end-to-end latency, and high energy efficiency. To this end, various techniques, such as small cell enhancement, dual connectivity, massive Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO), in-band full duplex, non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA), supporting super-wide band, and device networking, have been researched.

DISCLOSURE Technical Problem

An object of the present invention is to improve a reception performance of a reference signal of a terminal through Quasi-co-Location (QCL) assumption in a wireless communication system.

Furthermore, an object of the present invention is to define a QCL assumption operation for beam management in a wireless communication system

Furthermore, the present invention is to define a CSI procedure for a beam management/operation purpose in a wireless communication system.

Furthermore, the present invention is to propose a method for providing, by a base station to a UE, a new/efficient CSI-RS transmission method for a beam management/operation purpose and related configuration information in a wireless communication system.

The technical objects to attain in the present invention are not limited to the above-described technical objects and other technical objects which are not described herein will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description.

Technical Solution

A method of reporting, by a user equipment, channel state information (CSI) in a wireless communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention includes receiving, from a base station, CSI-reference signal (RS) resource configuration information for receiving a CSI-RS resource, receiving the CSI-RS resource based on the CSI-RS resource configuration information, and reporting, to the base station, CSI generated based on the CSI-RS resource. If the repeated transmission of the same CSI-RS resource is configured for the user equipment, the CSI-RS resource configuration information may include indication information for a subcarrier location to which the same CSI-RS resource is mapped.

Furthermore, the indication information may include first indication information for a subcarrier location to which the same CSI-RS resource is mapped, second indication information for a subcarrier location to which a zero power (ZP) CSI-RS resource is mapped and/or third indication information for a subcarrier location to which a CSI-RS resource for a different user equipment is mapped.

Furthermore, the first indication information may include offset information of a first subcarrier to which the same CSI-RS resource is mapped and/or subcarrier spacing information to which the same CSI-RS resource is mapped.

Furthermore, the second indication information may include offset information of a first subcarrier to which the ZP CSI-RS resource is mapped and/or subcarrier spacing information to which the ZP CSI-RS resource is mapped.

Furthermore, the third indication information may include offset information of a first subcarrier to which the CSI-RS resource for the different user equipment is mapped and/or subcarrier spacing information to which the CSI-RS resource for the different user equipment is mapped.

Furthermore, the same CSI-RS resource may be transmitted repeatedly within specific time duration as much as a spacing between remaining subcarriers except the subcarrier to which the ZP CSI-RS resource is mapped.

Furthermore, the specific time duration may be one orthogonal frequency division multiple (OFDM) symbol duration.

Furthermore, if a subcarrier not indicated by the indication information is present, the NZP CSI-RS resource for the different user equipment may be assumed to have been mapped to the subcarrier.

Furthermore, the CSI reporting method may further include receiving the same CSI-RS resource transmitted repeatedly within the specific time duration using different candidates of reception beam and selecting at least one candidate of reception beam among the candidates of reception beam based on the reception result.

Furthermore, the CSI reporting method may further include transmitting, to the base station, information related to a maximum number of the candidates of reception beam available for the user equipment, by signaling the information.

Furthermore, the number of times that the same CSI-RS resource is transmitted repeatedly within the specific time duration may be determined based on the maximum number of the candidates of reception beam available for the user equipment.

Furthermore, the indication information may indicate the number of times that the same CSI-RS resource is repeated within one orthogonal frequency division multiple (OFDM) symbol as information for the subcarrier location to which the same CSI-RS resource is mapped.

Furthermore, a user equipment reporting channel state information (CSI) in a wireless communication system according to another embodiment of the present invention includes a radio frequency (RF) unit for transmitting/receiving a radio signal and a processor controlling the RF unit. The processor is configured to receive, from a base station, CSI-reference signal (RS) resource configuration information for receiving a CSI-RS resource by controlling the RF unit, receiving the CSI-RS resource based on the CSI-RS resource configuration information by controlling the RF unit, and reporting, to the base station, CSI generated based on the CSI-RS resource by controlling the RF unit. If the repeated transmission of the same CSI-RS resource is configured for the user equipment, the CSI-RS resource configuration information may include indication information for a subcarrier location to which the same CSI-RS resource is mapped.

Furthermore, the indication information may include first indication information for a subcarrier location to which the same CSI-RS resource is mapped, second indication information for a subcarrier location to which a zero power (ZP) CSI-RS resource is mapped and/or third indication information for a subcarrier location to which a CSI-RS resource for a different user equipment is mapped.

Furthermore, the same CSI-RS resource may be transmitted repeatedly within specific time duration as much as a spacing between remaining subcarriers except the subcarrier to which the ZP CSI-RS resource is mapped.

Advantageous Effects

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a parameter in relation to a reception beam is defined as a new QCL parameter; there is an effect that a reception performance is more improved in a spatial aspect of an RS of a user equipment.

In addition, according to an embodiment of the present invention, since GCL assumption for different types of RSs is available, which brings the same effect as a density of a specific RS is increased, and accordingly, there is an effect that a reception performance of the corresponding RS is improved.

In addition, according to an embodiment of the present invention, since QCL signaling is indicated to a user equipment in a hierarchical signaling scheme, there is an effect that semi-static QCL indication considering an instantaneous situation is available as well as signaling overhead may be reduced.

Further, according to an embodiment of the present invention, since a CSI-RS is received based on the QCL assumption with an SSB, reception performance of the CSI-RS is enhanced. Moreover, when the QCL assumption is received for receiving the CSI-RS for the beam management, a QCL assumption operation for the beam management may be supported and more efficient beam management is available.

Furthermore, according to an embodiment of the present invention, there is an effect in that the utilization of a CSI-RS is very high because beam operation/management using a CSI-RS is possible.

Furthermore, according to an embodiment of the present invention, there is an effect in that total CSI procedure latency/overhead for a beam management/operation is reduced because a CSI-RS resource can be repeatedly transmitted within one OFDM symbol duration.

Furthermore, according to an embodiment of the present invention, there is an effect in that ambiguity is removed because the number of times that a CSI-RS resource is repeatedly transmitted within one OFDM symbol duration is clearly indicated by a base station.

Effects which may be obtained by the present invention are not limited to the aforementioned effects, and other technical effects not described above may be evidently understood by a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains from the following description.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this application, illustrate embodiment(s) of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principle of the invention.

FIG. 1 illustrates the structure of a radio frame in a wireless communication system to which the present invention may be applied.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a resource grid for one downlink slot in a wireless communication system to which the present invention may be applied.

FIG. 3 illustrates the structure of a downlink subframe in a wireless communication system to which the present invention may be applied.

FIG. 4 illustrates the structure of an uplink subframe in a wireless communication system to which the present invention may be applied.

FIG. 5 illustrates a self-contained subframe structure to which the present invention may be applied.

FIG. 6 exemplifies a sub-array partition model, which is a first TXRU virtualization model option.

FIG. 7 exemplifies a full-connection model, which is a second TXRU virtualization model option.

FIG. 8 illustrates reference signal patterns mapped to downlink resource block pairs in a wireless communication system to which the present invention may be applied.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a service area for each TXRU.

FIG. 10 illustrates an antenna panel model in which analog beamforming is applied for each panel to which the present invention may be applied.

FIG. 11 illustrates a scheme in which a single CSI-RS resource is mapped per panel according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 illustrates a scheme in which a plurality of CSI-RS resources is mapped per panel according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 illustrates a scheme in which a CSI-RS resource shared by a plurality of panels is mapped according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating duration of an SS block and an SS burst which may be applied to the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating an SS burst configuration for a TDD case which may be applied to the present invention.

FIG. 16 illustrates a type 1 CSI-RS and a type 2 CSI-RS which may be applied to the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating a QCL assumption scheme depending on a type 2 CSI-RS configuration according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating a (required) QCL indication for a type 2 CSI-RS resource according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating an overall DL beam management procedure according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 20 and 21 are diagrams illustrating CSI-RS antenna port mapping for each subcarrier in a frequency domain according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 22 is a flowchart illustrating a CSI reporting method of a UE according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 23 is a block diagram illustrating configuration of a wireless communication device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

MODE FOR INVENTION

Some embodiments of the present invention are described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. A detailed description to be disclosed along with the accompanying drawings are intended to describe some exemplary embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to describe a sole embodiment of the present invention. The following detailed description includes more details in order to provide full understanding of the present invention. However, those skilled in the art will understand that the present invention may be implemented without such more details.

In some cases, in order to avoid that the concept of the present invention becomes vague, known structures and devices are omitted or may be shown in a block diagram form based on the core functions of each structure and device.

In this specification, a base station (BS) (or eNB) has the meaning of a terminal node of a network over which the base station directly communicates with a device. In this document, a specific operation that is described to be performed by a base station may be performed by an upper node of the base station according to circumstances. That is, it is evident that in a network including a plurality of network nodes including a base station, various operations performed for communication with a device may be performed by the base station or other network nodes other than the base station. The base station (BS) may be substituted with another term, such as a fixed station, a Node B, an eNB (evolved-NodeB), a Base Transceiver System (BTS), an access point (AP), g-NodeB (gNB), New RAT (NR) or 5G-NodeB. Furthermore, the device may be fixed or may have mobility and may be substituted with another term, such as User Equipment (UE), a Mobile Station (MS), a User Terminal (UT), a Mobile Subscriber Station (MSS), a Subscriber Station (SS), an Advanced Mobile Station (AMS), a Wireless Terminal (WT), a Machine-Type Communication (MTC) device, a Machine-to-Machine (M2M) device, or a Device-to-Device (D2D) device, and the like.

Hereinafter, a downlink means communication from the base station to the terminal and an uplink means communication from the terminal to the base station. In the downlink, a transmitter may be a part of the base station and a receiver may be a part of the terminal. In the uplink, the transmitter may be a part of the terminal and the receiver may be a part of the base station.

Specific terms used in the following description are provided to help understanding of the present invention and the use of such specific terms may be modified into other forms within the scope without departing from the technical spirit of the present invention.

The following technologies may be used in various wireless communication systems, such as code division multiple access (CDMA), frequency division multiple access (FDMA), time division multiple access (TDMA), orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA), single carrier-FDMA (SC-FDMA), non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA), and the like. The CDMA may be implemented by radio technology universal terrestrial radio access (UTRA) or CDMA2000. TDMA may be implemented by radio technology such as global system for mobile communications (GSM)/general packet radio service (GPRS)/enhanced data rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE). OFDMA may be implemented as radio technology such as IEEE 802.11 (Wi-Fi), IEEE 802.16 (WiMAX), IEEE 802-20, E-UTRA (Evolved UTRA), and the like. The UTRA is a part of a universal mobile telecommunication system (UMTS). 3rd generation partnership project (3GPP) long term evolution (LTE) as a part of an evolved UMTS (E-UMTS) using evolved-UMTS terrestrial radio access (E-UTRA) adopts the OFDMA in a downlink and the SC-FDMA in an uplink. LTE-advanced (A) is an evolution of the 3GPP LTE.

Embodiments of the present invention may be based on standard documents disclosed in at least one of IEEE 802, 3GPP, and 3GPP2 which are the wireless access systems. That is, steps or parts which are not described to clearly expose the technical spirit of the present invention may be supported by the documents. Further, all terms disclosed in this document may be described by the standard documents.

In order to more clarify a description, 3GPP LTE/LTE-A is chiefly described, but the technical characteristics of the present invention are not limited thereto.

General System

FIG. 1 shows the structure of a radio frame in a wireless communication system to which an embodiment of the present invention may be applied.

3GPP LTE/LTE-A support a radio frame structure type 1 which may be applicable to Frequency Division Duplex (FDD) and a radio frame structure which may be applicable to Time Division Duplex (TDD).

FIG. 1(a) illustrates the radio frame structure type 1. A radio frame consists of 10 subframes. One subframe consists of 2 slots in a time domain. The time taken to send one subframe is called a Transmission Time Interval (TTI). For example, one subframe may have a length of 1 ms, and one slot may have a length of 0.5 ms.

One slot includes a plurality of Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) symbols in the time domain and includes a plurality of Resource Blocks (RBs) in a frequency domain. In 3GPP LTE, OFDM symbols are used to represent one symbol period because OFDMA is used in downlink. An OFDM symbol may be called one SC-FDMA symbol or symbol period. An RB is a resource allocation unit and includes a plurality of contiguous subcarriers in one slot.

FIG. 1(b) illustrates the frame structure type 2. The radio frame structure type 2 consists of 2 half frames. Each of the half frames consists of 5 subframes, a Downlink Pilot Time Slot (DwPTS), a Guard Period (GP), and an Uplink Pilot Time Slot (UpPTS). One subframe consists of 2 slots. The DwPTS is used for initial cell search, synchronization, or channel estimation in UE. The UpPTS is used for channel estimation in an eNB and to perform uplink transmission synchronization with UE. The guard period is an interval in which interference generated in uplink due to the multipath delay of a downlink signal between uplink and downlink is removed.

In the type 2 radio frame structure of a TDD system, an uplink-downlink configuration is a rule showing how uplink and downlink are allocated (or reserved) with respect to all of subframes. Table 1 shows the uplink-downlink configuration.

TABLE 1 Downlink- to-Uplink Uplink- Switch- Downlink point Subframe number configuration periodicity 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 5 ms D S U U U D S U U U 1 5 ms D S U U D D S U U D 2 5 ms D S U D D D S U D D 3 10 ms  D S U U U D D D D D 4 10 ms  D S U U D D D D D D 5 10 ms  D S U D D D D D D D 6 5 ms D S U U U D S U U D

Referring to Table 1, “D” indicates a subframe for downlink transmission, “U” indicates a subframe for uplink transmission, and “S” indicates a special subframe including the three fields of a downlink pilot time slot (DwPTS), a guard period (GP), and an uplink pilot time slot (UpPTS) for each of the subframes of the radio frame. The uplink-downlink configuration may be divided into seven types. The location and/or number of downlink subframes, special subframes, and uplink subframes are different in the seven types.

A point of time at which a change is performed from downlink to uplink or a point of time at which a change is performed from uplink to downlink is called a switching point. The periodicity of the switching point means a cycle in which an uplink subframe and a downlink subframe are changed is identically repeated. Both 5 ms and 10 ms are supported in the periodicity of a switching point. If the periodicity of a switching point has a cycle of a 5 ms downlink-uplink switching point, the special subframe S is present in each half frame. If the periodicity of a switching point has a cycle of a 5 ms downlink-uplink switching point, the special subframe S is present in the first half frame only.

In all of the seven configurations, No. 0 and No. 5 subframes and DwPTSs are an interval for only downlink transmission. The UpPTSs, the subframes, and a subframe subsequent to the subframes are always an interval for uplink transmission.

Such uplink-downlink configurations may be known to both an eNB and UE as system information. An eNB may notify UE of a change of the uplink-downlink allocation state of a radio frame by transmitting only the index of uplink-downlink configuration information to the UE whenever the uplink-downlink configuration information is changed. Furthermore, configuration information is kind of downlink control information and may be transmitted through a Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) like other scheduling information. Configuration information may be transmitted to all UEs within a cell through a broadcast channel as broadcasting information.

Table 2 shows a configuration (i.e., the length of a DwPTS/GP/UpPTS) of the special subframe.

TABLE 2 Normal cyclic prefix in downlink UpPTS Extended cyclic prefix in downlink Normal UpPTS cyclic Extended Normal Special prefix cyclic cyclic Extended subframe in prefix prefix in cyclic prefix configuration DwPTS uplink in uplink DwPTS uplink in uplink 0  6592 · T_(s) 2192 · T_(s) 2560 · T_(s)  7680 · T_(s) 2192 · T_(s) 2560 · T_(s) 1 19760 · T_(s) 20480 · T_(s) 2 21952 · T_(s) 23040 · T_(s) 3 24144 · T_(s) 25600 · T_(s) 4 26336 · T_(s)  7680 · T_(s) 4384 · T_(s) 5120 · T_(s) 5  6592 · T_(s) 4384 · T_(s) 5120 · T_(s) 20480 · T_(s) 6 19760 · T_(s) 23040 · T_(s) 7 21952 · T_(s) — — — 8 24144 · T_(s) — — —

The structure of a radio frame is only one example. The number of subcarriers included in one radio frame, the number of slots included in a subframe, and the number of OFDM symbols included in one slot may be changed in various ways.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a resource grid for one downlink slot in a wireless communication system to which the present invention may be applied.

Referring to FIG. 2, one downlink slot includes the plurality of OFDM symbols in a time domain. Herein, it is exemplarily described that one downlink slot includes 7 OFDM symbols and one resource block includes 12 subcarriers in the frequency domain, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

Each element on the resource grid is referred to as a resource element, and one resource block (RB) includes 12×7 resource elements. The number of RBs NDL included in a downlink slot depends on a downlink transmission bandwidth.

A structure of an uplink slot may be the same as that of a downlink slot.

FIG. 3 shows a structure of a downlink subframe in a wireless communication system to which an embodiment of the present invention may be applied.

Referring to FIG. 3, a maximum of three OFDM symbols located in a front portion of a first slot of a subframe correspond to a control region in which control channels are allocated, and the remaining OFDM symbols correspond to a data region in which a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) is allocated. Downlink control channels used in 3GPP LTE include, for example, a physical control format indicator channel (PCFICH), a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH), and a physical hybrid-ARQ indicator channel (PHICH), and the like.

A PCFICH is transmitted in the first OFDM symbol of a subframe and carries information about the number of OFDM symbols (i.e., the size of a control region) which is used to transmit control channels within the subframe. A PHICH is a response channel for uplink and carries an acknowledgement (ACK)/not-acknowledgement (NACK) signal for a Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ). Control information transmitted in a PDCCH is called Downlink Control Information (DCI). DCI includes uplink resource allocation information, downlink resource allocation information, or an uplink transmission (Tx) power control command for a specific UE group.

A PDCCH may carry information about the resource allocation and transport format of a downlink shared channel (DL-SCH) (this is also called an “downlink grant”), resource allocation information about an uplink shared channel (UL-SCH) (this is also called a “uplink grant”), paging information on a PCH, system information on a DL-SCH, the resource allocation of a higher layer control message, such as a random access response transmitted on a PDSCH, a set of transmission power control commands for individual UE within specific UE group, and the activation of a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), etc. A plurality of PDCCHs may be transmitted within the control region, and UE may monitor a plurality of PDCCHs. A PDCCH is transmitted on a single Control Channel Element (CCE) or an aggregation of some contiguous CCEs. A CCE is a logical allocation unit that is used to provide a PDCCH with a coding rate according to the state of a radio channel. A CCE corresponds to a plurality of resource element groups. The format of a PDCCH and the number of available bits of a PDCCH are determined by an association relationship between the number of CCEs and a coding rate provided by CCEs.

A base station determines the format of a PDCCH based on DCI to be transmitted to UE and attaches a Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC) to control information. A unique identifier (a Radio Network Temporary Identifier (RNTI)) is masked to the CRC depending on the owner or use of a PDCCH. If the PDCCH is a PDCCH for specific UE, an identifier unique to the UE, for example, a Cell-RNTI (C-RNTI) may be masked to the CRC. If the PDCCH is a PDCCH for a paging message, a paging indication identifier, for example, a Paging-RNTI (P-RNTI) may be masked to the CRC. If the PDCCH is a PDCCH for system information, more specifically, a System Information Block (SIB), a system information identifier, for example, a System Information-RNTI (SI-RNTI) may be masked to the CRC. A Random Access-RNTI (RA-RNTI) may be masked to the CRC in order to indicate a random access response which is a response to the transmission of a random access preamble by UE.

FIG. 4 shows a structure of an uplink subframe in a wireless communication system to which an embodiment of the present invention may be applied.

Referring to FIG. 4, the uplink subframe may be divided into a control region and a data region in a frequency domain. A physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) carrying uplink control information is allocated to the control region. A physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) carrying user data is allocated to the data region. In order to maintain single carrier characteristic, one UE does not send a PUCCH and a PUSCH at the same time.

A Resource Block (RB) pair is allocated to a PUCCH for one UE within a subframe. RBs belonging to an RB pair occupy different subcarriers in each of 2 slots. This is called that an RB pair allocated to a PUCCH is frequency-hopped in a slot boundary.

As more communication devices require greater communication capacity, a necessity of mobile broadband communication which is more improved than the existing radio access technology (RAT) has been raised. In addition, the massive MTC (Machine Type Communications) that provides various services anytime and anywhere by connecting a plurality of devices and objects is also one of important issues, which is considered in a next generation communication. Moreover, it has been discussed a design of a communication system in which a service and/or a UE sensitive to reliability and latency. As such, an introduction of a next generation RAT has been discussed currently, which considers enhanced mobile broadband communication, massive MTC, Ultra-Reliable and Low Latency Communication (URLLC), and the like, and such a technology is referred to as ‘new RAT (NR)’.

Self-Contained Subframe Structure

FIG. 5 illustrates a self-contained subframe structure to which the present invention may be applied.

In TDD system, in order to minimize data transmission delay, the self-contained subframe structure as shown in FIG. 5 has been considered in 5 Generation new RAT. The shaded area in FIG. 5 shows a downlink control region, and the dark area shows an uplink control region. In addition, the area not marked in FIG. 5 may be used for a downlink (DL) data transmission or an uplink (UL) data transmission. In the characteristics of such a structure, a DL transmission and a UL transmission may be sequentially progressed in a subframe, a DL data may be transmitted and a UL ACK/NACK may be received in a subframe. Consequently, a time required for retransmitting data is reduced when a data transmission error occurs, and owing to this, the delay till the last data forwarding may be minimized.

As an example of the self-contained subframe structure which may be configured/setup in a system operating based on New RAT, the following at least four subframe types may be considered. Hereinafter, the durations existed in each of the subframe types are numerated in time sequence.

1) DL control duration+DL data duration+guard period (GP)+UL control duration

2) DL control duration+DL data duration

3) DL data duration+GP+UL control duration+UL control duration

4) DL data duration+GP+UL control duration

In such a self-contained subframe structure, a time gap is required for a process that an eNB and a UE switch from a transmission mode to a reception mode or a process that an eNB and a UE switch from a reception mode to a transmission mode. For this, a part of OFDM symbols on the timing switching from DL to UL may be setup as GP, and such a subframe type may be referred to as ‘self-contained SF’.

Analog Beamforming

In Millimeter Wave (mmW) band, a wavelength becomes short and an installation of a plurality of antenna elements is available in the same area. That is, the wavelength in 30 GHz band is 1 cm, and accordingly, an installation of total 100 antenna elements is available in 2-dimensional arrangement shape with 0.5 lambda (wavelength) intervals in 5 by 5 cm panel. Therefore, in mmW band, beamforming (BF) gain is increased by using a plurality of antenna elements, and accordingly, coverage is increased or throughput becomes higher.

In this case, each antenna element has a Transceiver Unit (TXRU) such that it is available to adjust a transmission power and a phase, and independent beamforming is available for each frequency resource. However, it has a problem that effectiveness is degraded in a cost aspect when TXRUs are installed in all of about 100 antenna elements. Accordingly, a method has been considered to map a plurality of antenna elements in a single TXRU and to adjust a direction of beam by an analog phase shifter. Such an analog beamforming technique may make only one beam direction throughout the entire band, and there is a disadvantage that frequency selective beamforming is not available.

As a middle form between a Digital BF and an analog BF, B number of hybrid BF may be considered which is smaller than Q number of antenna element. In this case, directions of beams that may be transmitted simultaneously are limited lower than B number; even it is changed according to a connection scheme between B number of TXRUs and Q number of antenna elements.

FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate a representative connection scheme between a TXRU and an antenna element. More particularly, FIG. 6 exemplifies a sub-array partition model, which is a first TXRU virtualization model option and FIG. 7 exemplifies a full-connection model, which is a second TXRU virtualization model option. In FIGS. 6 and 7, TXRU virtualization model represents a relation between an output signal of a TXRU and an output signal of an antenna element.

As shown in FIG. 6, in the case of the virtualization model in which a TXRU is connected to a sub-array, an antenna element is connected to only a single TXRU. Different from this, in the case of the virtualization model in which a TXRU is connected to all antenna elements, an antenna element is connected to all TXRUs. In these drawings, W represents a phase vector which is multiplied by an analog phase shifter. That is, a direction of analog beamforming is determined by W. Here, mapping between CSI-RS antenna ports and TXRUs may be 1 to 1 (1:1) or 1 to many (1:N).

Reference Signal (RS)

In a wireless communication system, a signal may be distorted during transmission because data is transmitted through a radio channel. In order for a reception end to accurately receive a distorted signal, the distortion of a received signal needs to be corrected using channel information. In order to detect channel information, a method of detecting channel information using the degree of the distortion of a signal transmission method and a signal known to both the transmission side and the reception side when they are transmitted through a channel is mainly used. The aforementioned signal is called a pilot signal or reference signal (RS).

Furthermore recently, when most of mobile communication systems transmit a packet, they use a method capable of improving transmission/reception data efficiency by adopting multiple transmission antennas and multiple reception antennas instead of using one transmission antenna and one reception antenna used so far. When data is transmitted and received using multiple input/output antennas, a channel state between the transmission antenna and the reception antenna should be detected in order to accurately receive the signal. Accordingly, each transmission antenna should have an individual reference signal.

In a mobile communication system, an RS may be basically divided into two types depending on its purpose. There are an RS having a purpose of obtaining channel state information and an RS used for data demodulation. The former has a purpose of obtaining, by a UE, to obtain channel state information in the downlink, and accordingly, a corresponding RS should be transmitted in a wideband, and a UE should be capable of receiving and measuring the RS although the UE does not receive downlink data in a specific subframe. Furthermore, the former is also used for radio resources management (RRM) measurement, such as handover. The latter is an RS transmitted along with corresponding resources when an eNB transmits the downlink. A UE may perform channel estimation by receiving a corresponding RS and thus may demodulate data. The corresponding RS should be transmitted in a region in which data is transmitted.

A downlink RS includes one common RS (CRS) for the acquisition of information about a channel state shared by all of UEs within a cell and measurement, such as handover, and a dedicated RS (DRS) used for data demodulation for only a specific UE. Information for demodulation and channel measurement may be provided using such RSs. That is, the DRS is used only for data demodulation, and the CRS is used for the two purposes of channel information acquisition and data demodulation.

The reception side (i.e., UE) measures a channel state based on a CRS and feedbacks an indicator related to channel quality, such as a channel quality indicator (CQI), a precoding matrix index (PMI) and/or a rank indicator (RI), back to the transmission side (i.e., an eNB). The CRS is also called a cell-specific RS. On the other hand, a reference signal related to the feedback of channel state information (CSI) may be defined as a CSI-RS.

In 3GPP LTE(-A) system, it is defined that a UE reports CSI to a BS. Here, the CSI is commonly called for the information that may represent a quality of a radio channel (or also referred to as a link) established between a UE and an antenna port. For example, the CSI may correspond to a rank indicator (RI), a precoding matrix indicator (PMI), and/or a channel quality indicator (CQI), and the like. Here, RI represents rank information of a channel, and this may mean the number of streams that a UE receives through the same time-frequency resource. Since RI is determined with being dependent upon long-term fading of a channel, the RI is fed back from a UE to a BS with a period longer than CQI, generally. PMI is a value that reflects a channel space property, and represents a precoding index that a UE prefers based on a metric such as SINR. CQI is a value that represents signal strength, and means a reception SINR that is obtainable when a BS uses the PMI, generally.

In 3GPP LTE(-A) system, a BS may setup a plurality of CSI processes to a UE, and may receive CSI report for each process. Here, the CSI process may include CSI-RS for signal quality measurement from a BS and CSI-interference measurement (CSI-IM) resource for interference measurement.

The DRS may be transmitted through resource elements if data demodulation on a PDSCH is required. A UE may receive information about whether a DRS is present through a higher layer, and the DRS is valid only in the case that a corresponding PDSCH has been mapped. The DRS may also be called a UE-specific RS or Demodulation RS (DMRS).

FIG. 8 illustrates reference signal patterns mapped to downlink resource block pairs in a wireless communication system to which the present invention may be applied.

Referring to FIG. 8, a downlink resource block pair, a unit in which a reference signal is mapped may be represented in the form of one subframe in a time domain X 12 subcarriers in a frequency domain. That is, in a time axis (an x axis), one resource block pair has a length of 14 OFDM symbols in the case of a normal cyclic prefix (CP) (in FIG. 7(a)) and has a length of 12 OFDM symbols in the case of an extended cyclic prefix (CP) (FIG. 7(b)). In the resource block lattice, resource elements (REs) indicated by ‘0’, ‘1’, ‘2’, and ‘3’ mean the locations of the CRSs of antenna port indices ‘0’, ‘1’, ‘2’, and ‘3’, respectively, and REs indicated by ‘D’ mean the location of a DRS.

In the case that an eNB uses a single transmission antenna, reference signals for a single antenna port are arrayed.

In the case that an eNB uses two transmission antennas, reference signals for two transmission antenna ports are arrayed using a time division multiplexing (TDM) scheme and/or a frequency division multiplexing (FDM) scheme. That is, different time resources and/or different frequency resources are allocated in order to distinguish between reference signals for two antenna ports.

Furthermore, in the case that an eNB uses four transmission antennas, reference signals for four transmission antenna ports are arrayed using the TDM and/or FDM schemes. Channel information measured by the reception side (i.e., UE) of a downlink signal may be used to demodulate data transmitted using a transmission scheme, such as single transmission antenna transmission, transmission diversity, closed-loop spatial multiplexing, open-loop spatial multiplexing or a multi-user MIMO antenna.

In the case that a multi-input multi-output antenna is supported, when a RS is transmitted by a specific antenna port, the RS is transmitted in the locations of resource elements specified depending on a pattern of the RS and is not transmitted in the locations of resource elements specified for other antenna ports. That is, RSs between different antennas do not overlap.

In an LTE-A system, that is, an evolved and developed form of the LTE system, the design is necessary to support a maximum of eight transmission antennas in the downlink of an eNB. Accordingly, RSs for the maximum of eight transmission antennas must be also supported. In the LTE system, only downlink RSs for a maximum of four antenna ports has been defined. Accordingly, in the case that an eNB has four to a maximum of eight downlink transmission antennas in the LTE-A system, RSs for these antenna ports must be additionally defined and designed. Regarding the RSs for the maximum of eight transmission antenna ports, both of the aforementioned RS for channel measurement and the aforementioned RS for data demodulation should be designed.

One of important factors considered in designing an LTE-A system is backward compatibility, that is, that an LTE UE should operate properly also in the LTE-A system, which should be supported by the system. From an RS transmission aspect, in the time-frequency domain in which a CRS defined in LTE is transmitted in a full band every subframe, RSs for a maximum of eight transmission antenna ports should be additionally defined. In the LTE-A system, if an RS pattern for a maximum of eight transmission antennas is added in a full band every subframe using the same method as the CRS of the existing LTE, RS overhead is excessively increased.

Accordingly, the RS newly designed in the LTE-A system is basically divided into two types, which include an RS having a channel measurement purpose for the selection of MCS or a PMI (channel state information-RS, channel state indication-RS (CSI-RS), etc.) and an RS for the demodulation of data transmitted through eight transmission antennas (data demodulation-RS (DM-RS)).

The CSI-RS for the channel measurement purpose is characterized in that it is designed for a purpose focused on channel measurement unlike the existing CRS used for purposes of measurement, such as channel measurement and handover, and for data demodulation. Furthermore, the CSI-RS may also be used for a purpose of measurement, such as handover. The CSI-RS does not need to be transmitted every subframe unlike the CRS because it is transmitted for a purpose of obtaining information about a channel state. In order to reduce overhead of a CSI-RS, the CSI-RS is intermittently transmitted on the time axis.

In the LTE-A system, a maximum of eight transmission antennas are supported in the downlink of an eNB. In the LTE-A system, if RSs for a maximum of eight transmission antennas are transmitted in a full band every subframe using the same method as the CRS in the existing LTE, RS overhead is excessively increased. Accordingly, in the LTE-A system, an RS has been separated into the CSI-RS of the CSI measurement purpose of the selection of MCS or a PMI and the DM-RS for data demodulation, and thus the two RSs have been added. The CSI-RS may also be used for a purpose, such as RRM measurement, but has been designed for a main purpose for the acquisition of CSI. The CSI-RS does not need to be transmitted every subframe because it is not used for data demodulation. Accordingly, in order to reduce overhead of the CSI-RS, the CSI-RS is intermittently transmitted on the time axis. That is, the CSI-RS has a period corresponding to a multiple of the integer of one subframe and may be periodically transmitted or transmitted in a specific transmission pattern. In this case, the period or pattern in which the CSI-RS is transmitted may be set by an eNB.

In order to measure a CSI-RS, a UE should be aware of information about the transmission subframe index of the CSI-RS for each CSI-RS antenna port of a cell to which the UE belongs, the location of a CSI-RS resource element (RE) time-frequency within a transmission subframe, and a CSI-RS sequence.

In the LTE-A system, an eNB has to transmit a CSI-RS for each of a maximum of eight antenna ports. Resources used for the CSI-RS transmission of different antenna ports must be orthogonal. When one eNB transmits CSI-RSs for different antenna ports, it may orthogonally allocate the resources according to the FDM/TDM scheme by mapping the CSI-RSs for the respective antenna ports to different REs. Alternatively, the CSI-RSs for different antenna ports may be transmitted according to the CDM scheme for mapping the CSI-RSs to pieces of code orthogonal to each other.

When an eNB notifies a UE belonging to the eNB of information on a CSI-RS, first, the eNB should notify the UE of information about a time-frequency in which a CSI-RS for each antenna port is mapped. Specifically, the information includes subframe numbers in which the CSI-RS is transmitted or a period in which the CSI-RS is transmitted, a subframe offset in which the CSI-RS is transmitted, an OFDM symbol number in which the CSI-RS RE of a specific antenna is transmitted, frequency spacing, and the offset or shift value of an RE in the frequency axis.

A CSI-RS is transmitted through one, two, four or eight antenna ports. Antenna ports used in this case are p=15, p=15, 16, p=15, . . . , 18, and p=15, . . . , 22, respectively. A CSI-RS may be defined only for a subcarrier interval Δf=15 kHz.

RS Virtualization

In mmW band, a PDSCH transmission is available only to a single analog beam direction on a time by analog beamforming. As a result, an eNB is able to transmit data only to a small number of UEs in a specific direction. Accordingly, on occasion demands, analog beam direction is differently configured for each antenna port, and a data transmission may be performed to a plurality of UEs in several analog beam directions simultaneously.

Hereinafter, four sub-arrays are formed by dividing 256 antenna elements into four equal parts, and an exemplary structure in which a TXRU is connected to each sub-array shown in FIG. 9 is described mainly.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a service area for each TXRU.

When each sub-array includes total 64 (8×8) antenna elements in 2-dimensional array shape, a region corresponding to a horizontal angle area of 15 degrees and a vertical angle area of 15 degrees may be covered by specific analog beamforming. That is, a region in which an eNB is needed to serve is divided into a plurality of areas, and each area is served at a time. In the following description, it is assumed that CSI-RS antenna port and TXRU are mapped in 1-to-1 manner. Accordingly, an antenna port and a TXRU may have the same meaning in the following description.

As shown in an example of FIG. 9a , in the case that all TXRUs (antenna port, sub-array) have the same analog beamforming direction, the throughput of the corresponding region may be increased by forming a digital beam having higher resolution. In addition, the throughput of the corresponding region may be increased by increasing rank of transmission data to the corresponding region.

As shown in FIG. 9b , in the case that each TXRU (antenna port, sub-array) has different analog beamforming direction, a simultaneous data transmission becomes available in a corresponding subframe (SF) to UEs distributed in wider area. For example, among four antenna ports, two of them are used for a PDSCH transmission to UE1 in area 1 and the remaining two of them are used for a PDSCH transmission to UE2 in area 2.

FIG. 9b shows an example that PDSCH 1 transmitted to UE1 and PDSCH 2 transmitted to UE2 are Spatial Division Multiplexed (SDM). Different from this, FIG. 9c shows an example that PDSCH 1 transmitted to UE1 and PDSCH 2 transmitted to UE2 may be transmitted by being Frequency Division Multiplexed (FDM).

Between the scheme of serving an area by using all antenna ports and the scheme of serving several areas simultaneously by dividing antenna ports, in order to maximize cell throughput, a preferred scheme may be changed depending on a RANK and an MCS served to a UE. In addition, a preferred scheme may also be changed depending on an amount of data to be transmitted to each UE.

An eNB calculates cell throughput or scheduling metric that may be obtained when serving an area by using all antenna ports, and calculates cell throughput or scheduling metric that may be obtained when serving two areas by dividing antenna ports. The eNB compares the cell throughput or the scheduling metric that may be obtained through each scheme, and selects a final transmission scheme. Consequently, the number of antenna ports participated in a PDSCH transmission is changed for each SF (SF-by-SF). In order for an eNB to calculate a transmission MCS of a PDSCH according to the number of antenna ports and reflect it to scheduling algorithm, a CSI feedback from a UE proper to it may be requested.

Beam Reference Signal (BRS) and Beam Refinement Reference Signal (BRRS)

BRSs may be transmitted in at least one antenna port p={0, 1, . . . , 7}. BRS sequence r_(l)(m) may be defined as Equation 1 below.

$\begin{matrix} {{{r_{l}(m)} = {{\frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}\left( {1 - {2 \cdot {c\left( {2m} \right)}}} \right)} + {j\;\frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}\left( {1 - {2 \cdot {c\left( {{2m} + 1} \right)}}} \right)}}},{m = 0},1,\ldots\;,{{8 \cdot \left( {N_{RB}^{\max,{DL}} - 18} \right)} - 1}} & \left\lbrack {{Equation}\mspace{14mu} 1} \right\rbrack \end{matrix}$

In Equation 1, l=0, 1, . . . , 13 may represents an OFDM symbol number. In addition, c(i) represents a pseudo-random sequence generator, and may be initialized by Equation 2 on a starting point of each OFDM symbol.

$\begin{matrix} {{C_{init} = {{2^{10} \cdot \left( {{7 \cdot \left( {n_{s} + 1} \right)} + l^{\prime} + 1} \right) \cdot \left( {{2 \cdot N_{ID}^{cell}} + 1} \right)} + {2 \cdot N_{ID}^{cell}} + 1}},\mspace{20mu}{n_{s} = \left\lfloor \frac{l}{7} \right\rfloor},\mspace{20mu}{l^{\prime} = {l\mspace{11mu}{mod}\mspace{11mu} 7}}} & \left\lbrack {{Equation}\mspace{14mu} 2} \right\rbrack \end{matrix}$

BRRS may be transmitted in maximum eight antenna ports p=600, . . . , 607. A transmission and a reception of BRRS may be dynamically scheduled in a downlink resource allocation in xPDCCH.

BRRS sequence r_(l,n) _(s) (m) may be defined as Equation 3 below.

$\begin{matrix} {{{r_{l,n_{s}}(m)} = {{\frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}\left( {1 - {2{c\left( {2m} \right)}}} \right)} + {j\;\frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}\left( {1 - {2{c\left( {{2m} + 1} \right)}}} \right)}}},{m = 0},1,\ldots\;,{\left\lfloor {\frac{3}{8}N_{RB}^{\max,{DL}}} \right\rfloor - 1}} & \left\lbrack {{Equation}\mspace{14mu} 3} \right\rbrack \end{matrix}$

In Equation 3, ns represents a slot number in a radio frame, I represents an OFDM symbol number in the slot, and c(n) represents a pseudo-random sequence. The pseudo-random sequence generator may be initialized by Equation 4 on a starting point of each OFDM symbol. c _(init)=2¹⁰(7( n _(s)+1)+l+1)(2N _(ID) ^(BRRS)+1)+2N _(ID) ^(BRRS)+1 n _(s) =n _(s) mod 20  [Equation 4]

In Equation 4, N_(ID) ^(BRRS) may be set to a UE through Radio Resource Control (RRC) signaling.

BRS may be transmitted in every subframe, and may be transmitted in different analog beam directions for each port. Such a BRS may be used for an eNB to determine an approximate beam direction for a UE. When an approximate beam direction for a UE is determined based on BRS, an eNB may transmit BRRS for each of more accurate/minute analog beam directions within the determined analog beam direction range, and may determine more accurate analog beam direction.

As such, the name for the reference signal used for determining an analog beam direction for a UE is not limited to the BRS or the BRRS described above, and it is apparent that the name may be substituted by/referred to various reference signals that are usable for performing the same function. For example, the BRS may be substituted by/referred to primary/first CSI-RS, Primary synchronization signal/sequence (PSS), Secondary synchronization signal/sequence (SSS), Synchronization Signal/Sequence (SS) block, NR-PSS, and/or NR-SSS, and the BRRS may be substituted by/referred to secondary/second CSI-RS.

DL Phase Noise Compensation Reference Signal (DL PCRS)

A PCRS associated with xPDSCH may be transmitted in antenna port P=60 or P=61 as it is signaled in a DCI format. The PCRS is existed only in the case that xPDSCH transmission is associated with a corresponding antenna port, and the PCRS in this case may be a valid reference for phase noise compensation. The PCRS may be transmitted only in physical resource blocks and symbols to which corresponding xPDSCH is mapped. The PCRS may be the same in all symbols that correspond to xPDSCH allocation.

For both of the antenna ports P=60, 61, PCRS sequence r(m) may be defined as Equation 5 below.

$\begin{matrix} {{{r(m)} = {{\frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}\left( {1 - {2 \cdot {c\left( {2m} \right)}}} \right)} + {j\;\frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}\left( {1 - {2 \cdot {c\left( {{2m} + 1} \right)}}} \right)}}},{m = 0},1,\ldots\;,{\left\lfloor {N_{RB}^{\max,{DL}}/4} \right\rfloor - 1}} & \left\lbrack {{Equation}\mspace{14mu} 5} \right\rbrack \end{matrix}$

In Equation 5, c(i) represents pseudo-random sequence. The pseudo-random sequence generator may be initialized by Equation 6 on a starting point of each subframe. c _(init)=(└n _(s)/2┘+1)·(2n _(ID) ^((n) ^(SCID) ⁾+1)·2¹⁶ +n _(SCID)  [Equation 6]

In Equation 6, n_(ID) ^((i)) may be determined as below when i=0, 1.

-   -   If a value for n_(ID) ^(PCRS,i) is not provided by a higher         layer, n_(ID) ^((i))=N_(ID) ^(cell)     -   Otherwise, n_(ID) ^((i))=n_(ID) ^(PCRS,i)

A value of n_SCID may be set to 0, unless it is particularly determined. In xPDSCH transmission, n_SCID may be provided by a DCI formation associated with xPDSCH transmission.

Quasi Co-Located (QCL) Between Antenna Ports

In the present invention, when a UE receives data (e.g., PDSCH), a scheme is considered for demodulating the data using a UE-specific RS like a specific DMRS. Since such a DMRS is transmitted together with scheduled RB(s) of the corresponding PDSCH only and during only a time duration in which a scheduled PDSCH is transmitted, there may be a restriction in reception performance in performing channel estimation only with the corresponding DMRS. For example, for performing channel estimation, an estimation value of major large-scale parameter/property (LSP) of a radio channel is required, and DMRS density may be in short to obtain only the DMRS existed in time/frequency domain through which the scheduled PDSCH is transmitted. Accordingly, in order to support such a UE implementation, in LTE-A, the following quasi co-location signaling/assumption/behavior between RS ports is defined, and accordingly this, the methods of configuring/operating a UE are supported.

QC/QCL (quasi co-located or quasi co-location) can be defined as follows.

If two antenna ports have a QC/QCL relationship (or subjected to QC/QCL), UE may assume that the large-scale property of a signal transferred through one antenna port may be inferred from a signal transferred through the other antenna port. In this case, the large-scale property includes one or more of Delay spread, Doppler spread, Frequency shift, Average received power, and Received timing.

Furthermore, the following may be defined. Assuming that two antenna ports have a QC/QCL relation (or subjected to QC/QCL), UE may assume that the large-scale property of a channel of which one symbol is transferred through one antenna port may be inferred from a wireless channel of which one symbol is transferred through the other antenna port. In this case, the large-scale property includes one or more of Delay spread, Doppler spread, Doppler shift, Average gain, and Average delay.

That is, if two antenna ports have a QC/QCL relation (or subjected to QC/QCL), it means that the large-scale property of a wireless channel from one antenna port is the same as the large-scale property of a wireless channel from the other antenna port. Assuming that a plurality of antenna ports in which an RS is transmitted is taken into consideration, if antenna ports on which two types of different RSs are transmitted have a QCL relation, the large-scale property of a wireless channel from one antenna port may be replaced with the large-scale property of a wireless channel from the other antenna port.

In this specification, the QC/QCL-related definitions are not distinguished. That is, the QC/QCL concept may comply with one of the definitions. In a similar other form, the QC/QCL concept definition may be changed in a form in which antenna ports having an established QC/QCL assumption may be assumed to be transmitted at the same location (i.e., co-location) (e.g., UE may assume antenna ports to be antenna ports transmitted at the same transmission point). The spirit of the present invention includes such similar modifications. In an embodiment of the present invention, the QC/QCL-related definitions are interchangeably used, for convenience of description.

In accordance with the concept of the QC/QCL, UE may not assume the same large-scale property between wireless channels from corresponding antenna ports with respect to non-QC/QCL antenna ports. That is, in this case, UE may perform independent processing on timing acquisition and tracking, frequency offset estimation and compensation, delay estimation, and Doppler estimation for each configured non-QC/QCL antenna port.

There are advantages in that UE may perform the following operations between antenna ports capable of an assuming QC/QCL:

-   -   With respect to the Delay spread and Doppler spread, UE may         identically apply the results of a power-delay profile, Delay         spread and Doppler spectrum, and Doppler spread estimation for a         wireless channel from any one antenna port to a Wiener filter         which is used upon channel estimation for a wireless channel         from other antenna ports.     -   With respect to the Frequency shift and received timing, UE may         perform time and frequency synchronization on any one antenna         port and then apply the same synchronization to the demodulation         of other antenna ports.     -   With respect to the Average received power, UE may average         reference signal received power (RSRP) measurement for two or         more antenna ports.

For example, if a DMRS antenna port for downlink data channel demodulation has been subjected to QC/QCL with the CRS antenna port of a serving cell, UE may apply the large-scale property of a wireless channel estimated from its own CRS antenna port upon channel estimation through the corresponding DMRS antenna port, in the same manner, thereby improving reception performance of a DMRS-based downlink data channel.

That is, UE may perform the detection/reception, channel estimation, and channel state report of a downlink reference signal through a QC/QCL assumption between antenna ports.

Meanwhile, a UE may assume that antenna ports 0-3 of a serving cell and an antenna port for PSS/SSS are in QCL relation for Doppler shift and average delay.

PDSCH Resource Mapping Parameters

A UE configured with transmission mode 10 for a given serving cell may be configured with up to four parameter sets by higher layer signaling in order to decode a PDSCH according to detected PDCCH/EPDCCH that has DCI format 2D which is intended for the UE and the given serving cell.

In order for the UE to determine PDSCH RE mapping and to determine PDSCH antenna port QCL when the UE is configured with Type B QCL type, the UE uses the parameter configured according to ‘PDSCH RE Mapping and Quasi-Co-Location indicator’ field value, which is described in below Table 3, in the detected PDCCH/EPDCCH that has DCI format 2D. In the case of a PDSCH that has no corresponding PDCCH/EPDCCH, the UE uses the parameter set indicated in the PDCCH/EPDCCH that has DCI format 2D corresponding to SPS activation which is associated to determine PDSCH RE mapping and PDSCH antenna port QCL.

TABLE 3 Value of ‘PDSCH RE Mapping and Quasi-Co-Location Indicator’ field Description ‘00’ Parameter set 1 configured by higher layers ‘01’ Parameter set 2 configured by higher layers ‘10’ Parameter set 3 configured by higher layers ‘11’ Parameter set 4 configured by higher layers

The following parameters for determining PDSCH RE mapping and PDSCH antenna port QCL are configured through higher layer signaling for each parameter set:

-   -   crs-PortsCount-r11.     -   crs-FreqShift-r11.     -   mbsfn-SubframeConfigList-r11.     -   csi-RS-ConfigZPId-r11.     -   pdsch-Start-r11.     -   qcl-CSI-RS-ConfigNZPId-r11.     -   zeroTxPowerCSI-RS2-r12 (when a UE is configured with higher         layer parameter CSI-Reporting-Type for a TDD serving cell)

In the case that a PDSCH is decoded according to detected PDCCH/EPDCCH having DCI format 1A that has CRC scrambled with C-RNTI intended for a use of a UE and a given serving cell, and a UE is configured with Type B QCL type for PDSCH transmission in antenna port 7, in order to determine PDSCH RE mapping and PDSCH antenna port QCL, a UE to which transmission mode 10 for a given serving cell is set should use parameter set 1 in Table 3.

In order to decode a PDSCH corresponding to PDCCH/EPDCCH having DCI format 1A that has CRC scrambled with SPS C-RNTI and PDSCH without corresponding PDCCH/EPDCCH associated with SPS activation indicated by PDCCH/EPDCCH having DCI format 1A, a UE to which transmission mode 10 for a given serving cell is set should use parameter set 1 in Table 3 in order to determine PDSCH RE mapping and PDSCH antenna port QCL.

In order to decode a PDSCH according to detected PDCCH/EPDCCH having DCI format 1A for a UE in a given serving cell, and to transmit a PDSCH in antenna ports 0-3, a UE set to transmission mode 10 for a given serving cell should determine PDSCH RE mapping using the lower indexed zero-power CSI-RS.

Antenna Port QCL for PDSCH

A UE configured with transmission modes 8-10 for a serving cell may assume that antenna ports 7-14 for the serving cell is in QCL for a given subframe for delay spread, Doppler spread, Doppler shift, average gain and average delay.

A UE configured with transmission modes 1-10 for a serving cell may assume that antenna ports 0-3, 5, 7-30 for the serving cell is in QCL for Doppler shift, Doppler spread, average delay and delay spread.

A UE configured with transmission mode 10 for a serving cell is configured with one of two QCL types for the serving cell by higher layer parameter QCL operation in order to decode a PDSCH according to a transmission scheme in relation to antenna ports 7-14.

-   -   Type A: For a UE, antenna ports 0-3, 7-30 of a serving cell is         in QCL for delay spread, Doppler spread, Doppler shift and         average delay.     -   Type B: For a UE, antenna ports 15-30 that corresponds to a         CSI-RS resource configuration identified by higher layer         parameter qcl-CSI-RS-ConfigNZPId-r11 and antenna ports 7-14         associated with a PDSCH is in QCL for Doppler shift, Doppler         spread, average delay and delay spread.

In the case of LAA Scell, a UE does not expect that it is configured with QCL type B.

Channel-State Information (CSI)-Reference Signal (CSI-RS) Definition

With respect to a serving cell and a UE that are configured with transmission mode 9 and not configured with higher layer parameter eMIMO-Type, the UE may be configured with a single CSI-RS resource configuration.

In addition, with respect to a serving cell and a UE that are configured with transmission mode 9, configured with higher layer parameter eMIMO-Type and of which eMIMO-Type is CLASS A, the UE may be configured with a single CSI-RS resource configuration.

With respect to a serving cell and a UE that are configured with transmission mode 9, configured with higher layer parameter eMIMO-Type and of which eMIMO-Type is CLASS B, the UE may be configured with one or more CSI-RS resource configurations.

With respect to a serving cell and a UE that are configured with transmission mode 10, the UE may be configured with one or more CSI-RS resource configuration(s). The following parameters that the UE assumes non-zero transmission power for a CSI-RS is configured through higher layer signaling for each CSI-RS resource configuration:

-   -   CSI-RS resource configuration identity when a UE is configured         with transmission mode 10     -   The number of CSI-RS ports     -   CSI RS configuration     -   CSI RS subframe configuration I_CSI-RS     -   UE assumption for a reference PDSCH transmission power P_c for         CSI feedback, when a UE is configured with transmission mode 9     -   UE assumption for a reference PDSCH transmission power P_c for         CSI feedback for each CSI process, when a UE is configured with         transmission mode 10. If CSI subframe sets C_CSI,0 and C_CSI,1         are configured by higher layer signaling for a single CSI         process, P_c is configured for each of the CSI subframe sets of         the corresponding CSI process.     -   Pseudo-random sequence generator parameter n_ID     -   CDM type parameter, when a UE is configured with higher layer         parameter eMIMO-Type and the eMIMO-Type is set to ‘CLASS A’.     -   Higher layer parameter qcl-CRS-Info-r11, when a UE is configured         with transmission mode 10, UE assumption of CRS antenna port         that has the following parameters and CSI-RS antenna ports:     -   qcl-ScramblingIdentity-r11.     -   crs-PortsCount-r11.     -   mbsfn-SubframeConfigList-r11.

P_c is an assumed ratio of PDSCH EPRE for CSI-RS EPRE when a UE derives CSI feedback and takes a value in a range of [−8, 15] dB with 1 dB step size. Here, the PDSCH EPRE corresponds to symbol number for a ratio of the PDSCH EPRE with respect to cell-specific RS EPRE.

A UE does not expect to a configuration of a CSI-RS and a PMCH in the same subframe of a serving cell.

With respect to frame structure type 2 serving cell and 4 CRS ports, a UE does not expect to receive CSI-RS configuration index belonged to set [20 −31] for a normal CP case or set [16 −27] for an extended CP case.

A UE may assume that CSI-RS antenna port of CSI-RS resource configuration is in QCL for delay spread, Doppler spread, Doppler shift, average gain and average delay.

A UE configured with transmission mode 10 and QCL type B may assume that antenna ports 0 to 3 associated with qcl-CRS-Info-r11 corresponding to CSI-RS resource configuration and antenna ports 15 to 30 corresponding to CSI-RS resource configuration are in QCL for Doppler shift and Doppler spread.

A UE configured with transmission 10, configured with higher layer parameter eMIMO-Type and the eMIMO-Type is set to ‘class B’, in which the number of configured CSI resources is more than one for a single CSI process and having QCL type B does not expect to receive CSI-RS resource configuration for a CSI process that has different value of higher layer parameter qcl-CRS-Info-r11.

BL/CE UE configured with CEModeA or CEModeB does not expect that it is configured with non-zero transmission power CSI-RS.

Assumptions Independent of Physical Channel

A UE should not assume that two antenna ports are in QCL unless otherwise specified.

A UE may assume that antenna ports 0 to 3 for a serving cell is in QCL for delay spread, Doppler spread, Doppler shift, average gain and average delay.

For the purpose of discovery signal-based measurement, a UE should not assume that there is another signal or physical channel except the discovery signal.

If a UE supports discoverySignalsInDeactSCell-r12, the UE is configured by discovery signal-based RRM measurement in a carrier frequency applicable to a secondary cell in the same carrier frequency, the secondary cell is inactivated, and the UE is not configured by higher layer in order to receive MBMS in the secondary cell, except a discovery signal transmission, it is assumed that PSS, SSS, Physical Broadcast Channel (PBCH), CRS, PCFICH, PDSCH, PDCCH, EPDCCH, PHICH, DMRS and CSI-RS are not transmitted by the corresponding secondary cell until the subframe in which an activation command is received for the secondary cell.

CSI Reporting Method

With an introduction of Full Dimension (FD)-MIMO (or may also be referred to as Massive-MIMO, enhanced-MIMO, Large-Scale Antenna System, Very Large MIMO, Hyper-MIMO, etc.), an base station may increase throughput of a system by performing D-beamforming and the like using N (N>>1) antenna ports (or corresponds to “element” according to specific port-to-element virtualization, and hereinafter, commonly referred to as “port” for the convenience of description).

Currently, 3GPP Rel-13 defines CSI-RS operation (or CSI reporting operation, each CSI process may be associated with a single CSI-RS resource and a single CSI-IM resource) of non-precoded scheme defined as Class A and CSI-RS operation (or CSI reporting operation, each CSI process may be associated with one or more CSI-RS resources and one or more CSI-IM resources) of beamformed scheme defined as Class B.

In the case of Class A, in the FD MIMO system, a base station may configure several CSI-RS resources to a UE in a single CSI process. A UE merges each of CSI-RS resources configured in a single CSI process into a single large CSI-RS resource, not regarding it as an independent channel, and feedbacks by calculating/obtaining CSI from the corresponding resource. For example, in the case that an base station configures three 4-port CSI-RS resources to a UE in a single CSI process, the UE merges the configured three 4-port CSI-RS resources and assumes it as a single 12-port CSI-RS resource. The UE feedbacks by calculating/obtaining CSI using 12-port PMI from the corresponding resource.

Even in the case of Class B, in the FD MIMO system, a base station may configure several CSI-RS resources to a UE in a single CSI process. For example, in a single CSI process, a base station may configure eight 4-port CSI-RS resources to a UE. Different virtualizations are applied to the respective eight 4-port CSI-RS, and different beamformings with each other may be applied. For example, assuming the case that vertical beamforming is applied with zenith angle of 100 degrees to a first CSI-RS, vertical beamforming may be applied to second to eighth CSI-RSs with zenith angle difference of 5 degrees, and as a result, vertical beamforming may be applied to the eighth CSI-RS with zenith angle of 135 degrees.

In this case, the UE assumes each of the configured CSI-RS resources as an independent channel, and selects one of the configured CSI-RS resources, and then feedbacks/reports by calculating/obtaining CSI based on the selected resource. That is, a UE may select a CSI-RS resource of which channel is robust among the configured eight 4-port CSI-RS resources, and calculate CSI based on the selected CSI-RS resource, and then report it to the base station. In this case, the UE may report the selected CSI-RS resource through CSI-RS Resource Index (CRI) value. For example, in the case that the first CSI-RS resource channel is the strongest, the UE may set the CSI value to ‘0’ and report it to the base station.

In order to represent the technical features described above, in Class B CSI process, the following variables may be defined. K may mean the number of CSI-RS resources existed in the CSI process, and Nk may mean the number of CSI-RS resources of the kth CSI-RS resource. For example, a UE is configured with eight 4-port CSI-RS resources, K is 8 and Nk is 4 regardless of k value.

In current Rel-13, CRI indicates a specific CSI-RS resource only, but a future CRI may be further materialized to indicate a specific port combination. For example, it may be further materialized that CRI indicates a single CSI-RS resource selected among eight CSI-RS resources in a CSI process, and indicates that an additionally selected CSI-RS resource is constructed by a combination of ports #15 and #16. At this time, assuming that the CRI may indicate a combination of ports #15 and #16 or ports #17 and #18 for each CSI-RS resource, the CRI may be set as one of 16 (=2{circumflex over ( )}4) values.

That is, the case of being configured with CRI=0 indicates a combination of ports #15 and #16 of the first CSI-RS resource, the case of being configured with CRI=1 indicates a combination of ports #17 and #18 of the first CSI-RS resource, the case of being configured with CRI=2 indicates a combination of ports #15 and #16 of the second CSI-RS resource, the case of being configured with CRI=3 indicates a combination of ports #17 and #18 of the second CSI-RS resource, and in such schemes, each of the combinations of CSI-RSs may be indicated according to an ascending order of CRI values. In addition, finally, it may be identified that the case of being configured with CRI=15 indicates a combination of ports #17 and #18 of the last eighth CSI-RS resource.

In the case of Class A, a UE measures N antenna ports, selects N-port precoder by using the N antenna ports, and then reports the related CSI (PMI, CQI, RI, etc.) to the base station. However, as N increases, the CSI-RS for a channel measurement of a UE needs to be also increased, and the related codebook size is also increased, and consequently, feedback overhead is also increased.

On the other hand, in the case of Class B, the number of CSI-RS ports is in relation to a maximum rank of a UE, rather than the number of antenna ports of a base station, and accordingly, there is an advantage that the CSI-RS ports may be used without big increase of the number of CRI-RSs even in the case that the number of antenna ports is increased. However, a beam selection needs to be performed in a base station, and accordingly, there is a disadvantage that the robustness of beamforming may be degraded in the environment that mobility of a UE is high and a beam of a base station is narrow.

In order to compensate the disadvantage of the two techniques and to maximize the advantage, it may be considered the hybrid CSI-RS based scheme (or CSI reporting scheme) that uses a combination of Class A and Class B.

QCL Assumption and Signaling Method for New RAT

The UE performing the QCL operation, in the case that the UE configured with QCL Type B, may use LSPs estimated from a specific QCLed CSI-RS resource indicated a scheduling DCI in order to be assisted with channel estimation of a DMRS transmitted together with scheduled PDSCH. However, in the New RAT (NR) environment considered in the present invention, aperiodic CSI-RS transmission scheme is considered in the aspect that the transmission of CSI-RS itself is transmitted only when it is required departing from the conventional periodic scheme, and accordingly, there is a problem that the RS density for being utilized as CSI-RS for QCL assumption becomes in short significantly in comparison with the conventional system. Accordingly, hereinafter, it is proposed embodiments of various QCL operations considering aperiodic CSI-RS transmission scheme in such NR environment. Before the proposition, QCL parameters that may be defined in the NR environment will be described. However, the following QCL parameters are not limited to the NR environment, but may be applied to various wireless communication systems.

1. QCL Parameter

As QCL parameters considered (in the NR environment), one of the followings may be defined/configured.

-   -   Delay spread     -   Doppler spread     -   Doppler shift     -   Average gain     -   Average delay     -   Average angle (AA):     -   Angular spread (AS)

In the NR environment, when the analog beamforming is applied to a UE side, a new type of QCL property for an arrival angle needs to be considered, and accordingly, the parameters in relation to a reception beam such as the AA and the AS may be defined as new type of QCL parameters.

Between antenna ports in which QCL is guaranteed in the AA aspect, QCL assumption for a reception beam direction (and/or reception beam width/sweeping degree) is available. For example, a UE is available to receive a transmission signal by setting a reception beam direction (and/or reception beam width/sweeping degree) of a transmission signal from other antenna port(s) in the same way as the AA estimated from specific antenna port(s) and in the similar way (in relation to this). When a UE operates as such, a reception performance may be guaranteed higher than a specific level. Such an AA may also be replaced by a term “(Almost) Dominant arrival angle” and the like, for example.

Consequently, the QCL assumption in the AA aspect, when assuming that there is a specific dominant (arrival) angle ‘S’ of a signal measured from a specific antenna port, it may be interpreted that the specific dominant (arrival) angle of a signal measured from other antenna port, which is QCL assumed (or has QCL relation) with this, is “almost” the same as/similar to the ‘S’. That is, a receiver may in which QCL assumption is available may utilize/apply the AA estimated from the specific indicated QCLed RS/SS to a reception process almost at it is, and consequently, there is an advantage that an implementation/operation of an efficient receiver is available.

The QCL assumption in the AS aspect between two antenna ports means that the AS of a specific port may be derived/estimated/applied from the AS estimated from other port which is QCLed with the corresponding port.

The AS may be distinguished into Azimuth AS and Zenith AS, and in this case, the AS may be separately defined or defined together for each specific dimension. And/or, the AS may be distinguished into departure AS and arrival AS, and may be defined separately or together with for each distinguished AS.

In the AS aspect, between antenna ports in which QCL is guaranteed/assumed, the QCL assumption for a reception beam width/sweeping degree (and/or a reception beam direction) is available. For example, a UE may mean that a reception of a transmission signal is available by configuring a reception beam width/sweeping degree (and/or a reception beam direction) from other antenna port(s) identically or similarly (in relation to it) with the AS estimated from specific antenna port(s). When the UE operates as such, a reception performance is guaranteed higher than a specific level.

In summarizing the contents described above in relation to the AA and the AS, the AA may be interpreted as a parameter in relation to average (the most) valid/dominant beam/spatial direction/angle, and the AS may be interpreted as a parameter in relation to beam/space/angle spectrum/range for degree of spreading of beam direction by a reflector distribution (based/centered on AA).

The AA and AS are parameters used in QCL assumption for a reception beam/space/angle management function. Therefore, the AA and AS may be collectively called a reception beam parameter, a reception beam related parameter, a reception angle parameter, a reception angle related parameter, a spatial QCL parameter, a spatial parameter, or a spatial Rx parameter. Hereinafter, for convenience of description, the AA and AS will be collectively called the ‘reception beam related parameter’.

As reception beam related parameters, Angle of Arrival (AoA), Dominant AoA, average AoA, Power Angular Spectrum (PAS) of AoA, average Angle of Departure (AoD), PAS of AoD, transmit/receive channel correlation, transmit/receive beamforming, spatial channel correlation, and the like may also be defined, which have the same/similar property as the AA and/or the AS described above.

QCL assumption between two antenna ports in terms of a power angle (-of-arrival) profile (PAP) means that PAP of a specific port may be derived/estimated/applied from PAP estimated from another port QCL with the corresponding port (that is, a characteristic that the PAPs of two ports are the same as or similar to each other may be derived/estimated/applied). The PAP as a PAP for azimuth and/or zenith angle-domain may be defined separately or defined together for each specific dimension. In addition/alternatively, the PAP may be defined separately or together in terms of a departure and/or an arrival.

The QCL guarantee/assumption in terms of the PAP may mean, for example, that a received beam width/sweeping degree (and/or received beam direction) when receiving a transmission signal from another antenna port(s) based on the PAP estimated from a specific antenna port(s) is set to be the same as or similar to a corresponding specific antenna port(s) (or associated therewith) to receive the transmission signal. Furthermore, the QCL guarantee/assumption in terms of the PAP may mean that the reception performance in this way is guaranteed at a specific level or higher.

In this specification, a new concept called “partial QCL (or may also be referred to as a similar/modified name such as sub-QCL, fractional QCL, or quasi-sub-location (QSL))” is introduced in association with the QCL parameter.

A relationship such as “partial QCL (or may also be referred to as a similar/modified name such as sub-QCL, fractional QCL, or quasi-sub-location (QSL))” may be established/configured/indicated between specific antenna ports with respect to the at least one QCL parameter. For example, it may be assumed/configured/indicated that the “partial QCL” is established between a signal (and/or a resulting experienced/observed (wireless) channel) transmitted from specific antenna port group A (e.g., the number of antenna port groups A may be one or more) and a signal (and/or a resulting experienced/observed (wireless) channel) transmitted from specific antenna port group B (e.g., the number of antenna port groups B may be one or more). In this case, it may be assumed/applied/utilized that QCL parameter(s)/property(s) for antenna port group A is a “sub-set (a relationship included in the same or higher set)” of QCL parameter(s)/property(s) estimated from antenna port group B. This may mean that performance is guaranteed at a predetermined level or higher when an association operation is applied based on the assumption/application/utilization.

The “partial QCL” has significance in various environments. In a representative example, a case may be considered in which a plurality of physical antennas form a single antenna network (SFN) to form logical antenna port group A and logical antenna group B is mapped to individual physical antennas. That is, in a representative example, a case may be considered in which a plurality of physical antennas (in particular, when LSPs are different for each physical antenna) is mapped to antenna ports of logical antenna port group A and signals of corresponding antenna ports are transmitted through the plurality of antennas, but antenna ports of logical antenna port group B are mapped to any one of the plurality of physical antennas to which logical antenna port group A is mapped to transmit signals of corresponding ports through the one antenna. In the embodiment, a receiving end may derive the LSP of a channel to be experienced/transmitted by the signal transmitted through logical antenna port group B from the SLP of the channel acquired from the signal transmitted through logical antenna port group A (i.e., partial QCL relationship/assumption is established).

For example, when logical antenna port group B has the partial QCL relationship with respect to logical antenna port group A in a multipath fading panel environment, a relationship may be established/assumed in which channel delay values for/affecting the signal transmitted through logical antenna port group B are some of channel delay values for/affecting the signal transmitted through logical antenna port group A. In addition/alternatively, for example, when logical antenna port group B has the partial QCL relationship with respect to logical antenna port group A in the multipath fading panel environment, a relationship may be established/assumed in which channel Doppler values for/affecting the signal transmitted through logical antenna port group B are some of channel Doppler values for/affecting the signal transmitted through logical antenna port group A. The receiving end may configure a parameter/LSP for a channel estimator of the signal received through antenna port group B by using/based on the LSP acquired from the signal of logical antenna port group A by using such relationships. In addition/alternatively, for example, when logical antenna port group B has the partial QCL relationship with respect to logical antenna port group A in the multipath fading panel environment, a relationship may be established/assumed in which a reception beam direction (or angle/range) for receiving the signal transmitted through logical antenna port group B belongs to/is included in a reception beam direction (or angle/range) for receiving the signal transmitted through logical antenna port group A. The receiving end may search the reception beam direction (or angle/range) for receiving the signal transmitted through logical antenna port group B among the reception beam directions (or angles/ranges) for receiving the signal transmitted through logical antenna port group A by using such relationships. Therefore, the receiving end may improve a search speed of the reception beam direction and/or reduce complexity of reception processing.

2. Inter/Intra-RS/SS QCL Relation

(In the NR environment,) At least one of the QCL parameters/properties described above may be supported to be used in a UE operation by being defined/configured between specific RS/SS (e.g., between RS/SS of different types with each other among the RS/SS described below or between RS/SS of the same types).

-   -   PSS and/or SSS (this may be commonly called ‘synchronization         sequence/signal (SS) block’.)     -   BRS     -   BRRS     -   CSI-RS     -   PCRS (Phase noise Compensation Reference Signal)     -   DMRS

3. BRRS (Beam Refinement Reference Signal) QCL

In a beam refinement operation based on the BRRS, for channel estimation and the like for the BRRS itself, (when it is considered that a BRRS transmission in NR may have aperiodic property) it is required that RS density is supported such that the QCL assumption is available for a specific QCL parameter/property (e.g., {Doppler spread and/or Doppler shift}) from much higher BRS, and so on.

As such, the RS/SS QCLed with the BRRS may be provided together when the RRC of the corresponding BRRS is configured, and this may mean that semi-static QCL configuration for BRRS is supported. Otherwise, in order to provide more dynamic QCL configuration, QCL configuration of L2-level (and/or L1-level) may be configured/provided through medium access control (MAC) control element (CE) (and/or DCI) and so on for each BRRS. For example, all types of QCL configuration information of L2-level (and/or L1-level) may be provided to a UE (in real time) with full flexibility, or a plurality of candidate QCL configuration parameter sets is configured through RRC configuration and a UE is instructed through L2-level (and/or L1-level) signaling about which one is selected/applied/used among the parameter sets.

As an example of hierarchical QCL configuration instruction/signaling, a scheme is also available that an eNB configures a plurality of candidate QCL configuration parameter sets through RRC configuration to a UE, and filters 2{circumflex over ( )}M (M>=1) parameter sets through L2-level signaling such as MAC CE primarily, and it may be instructed on which parameter set is selected/applied/used among the parameter sets that are filtered primarily through L1-level signaling through a specific DCI of N-bit field to a UE. In other words, QCL configuration may be hierarchized (e.g., through total third times) (or through a plurality of times) and instructed/provided to a UE, and may be instructed through RRC configuration primarily, L2-level signaling (e.g., MAC CE, etc.) secondarily, and L1-level signaling (e.g., DCI, etc.) thirdly. As such, hierarchized QCL configuration instruction scheme may be applied to the QCL configuration of other RS/SS in the same/similar manner as well as the QCL configuration of the BRRS.

As such, the signaling scheme of RS/SS (e.g., BRS and/or PSS/SSS) information QCLed (with BRRS) provided for the purpose of channel estimation/measurement of BRRS through dynamic indication of L1 (and/or L2)-level may be very efficient in a wireless communication system in which “aperiodic or on-demand” BRRS transmission is considered.

More particularly, a transmitter may set at least one BRRS (resource(s)) to a receiver in advance, and a transmitter (or an eNB) may instruct information for a receiver to receive each BRRS dynamically through L2-level (e.g., MAC CE) and/or L1-level (e.g., DCI). Here, the information for receiving each BRRS may include QCLed RS/SS information (with BRRS), for example, information of specific BRS port(s) and/or specific PSS/SSS. As a result, there is an advantage that a transmitter (or an eNB) is able to perform a proper (aperiodic/on-demand) BRRS transmission very flexibly by considering an instantaneous situation such as loading of a UE and traffic/channel condition, and the like by using BRRS transport resources that are preconfigured to a UE.

In order to support the operations described above efficiently, specific ID may be provided to each BRRS (or BRRS resource) and/or each BRRS port(s), and/or specific ID may be provided to each BRS (or BRS resource) and/or each BRS port(s). Such a specific ID may be indicated to a UE through QCL signaling for providing QCL configuration to the UE described above.

When an eNB indicates RS/SS (e.g., specific BRS port(s)) information QCLed for a specific BRRS to a UE (dynamically), the eNB may restrict QCL parameter/property to which QCL assumption is applied to a part of the numerated QCL parameters/properties.

For example, a UE may be restricted such that QCL assumption is available only for {Doppler spread, and/or Doppler shift} parameter/property. This is caused by the reason such as the case that there is a limitation in obtaining frequency synchronization only with the BRRS safely. Particularly, the QCL assumption between BRRS and a specific BRS may be support by an implementation scheme in the case that BRRS and BRS are generated from the same oscillator.

And/or, a UE may be restricted that QCL assumption is (also) available for {Delay spread, and/or Average delay} parameter/property. For example, an eNB may configure/support the LSP of BRS QCLed with BRRS to a UE in the case that the LSP is guaranteed when it may be inferred between BRRS and BRS (transmitted from the same panel antenna, etc.), and accordingly, an efficient receiver implementation may be supported.

And/or, a UE may be restricted that QCL assumption is (also) available for {Average angle and/or Angular spread} parameter/property. A reception (analog) beam coefficients generation for receiving BRRS may be applied by inferring from a beam coefficient generation which is applied when receiving BRS, and accordingly, there is an advantage that an efficient receiver implementation may be supported. Otherwise, considering that the AA of BRRS may be deviated with an angle different from the AA of BRS with a specific level or higher, it may be set to a UE such that only “AS” is reflected (i.e., QCL assumption) (additionally).

4. CSI-RS QCL

In CSI-RS based CSI measurement and reporting operation, when a channel for CSI-RS itself is measured, (considering that CSI-RS transmission may have aperiodic property in NR) it is required to support the QCL assumption for specific QCL parameter/property (e.g., Doppler spread and Doppler shift) from BRS or BRRS of which RS density is greater. The information of RS/SS which is QCLed (with CSI-RS) may be provided when RRC of the corresponding CSI-RS is configured together, and this may be interpreted that semi-static QCL configuration for CSI-RS is supported.

Alternatively, in order to provide more dynamic QCL configuration, the QCL configuration of L2-level (and/or L1-level) through MAC (medium access control) CE (control element)(and/or DCI) may be configured/provided for each CSI-RS (resource). For example, all types of QCL configuration information of L2-level (and/or L1-level) may be provided to a UE (in real time) with full flexibility, or a plurality of candidate QCL configuration parameter sets is configured through RRC configuration and a UE is instructed through L2-level (and/or L1-level) signaling about which one is selected/applied/used among the parameter sets.

As an example of hierarchical QCL configuration instruction/signaling, a scheme is also available that an eNB configures a plurality of candidate QCL configuration parameter sets through RRC configuration to a UE, and filters 2{circumflex over ( )}M (M>=1) parameter sets through L2-level signaling such as MAC CE primarily, and it may be instructed on which parameter set is selected/applied/used among the parameter sets that are filtered primarily through L1-level signaling through a specific DCI of N-bit field to a UE. In other words, QCL configuration may be hierarchical (e.g., through total third times) (or through a plurality of times) and instructed/provided to a UE, and may be instructed through RRC configuration primarily, L2-level signaling (e.g., MAC CE, etc.) secondarily, and L1-level signaling (e.g., DCI, etc.) thirdly. As such, hierarchical QCL configuration instruction scheme may be applied to the QCL configuration of other RS/SS in the same/similar manner as well as the QCL configuration of the CSI-RS.

As such, the signaling scheme of RS/SS (e.g., BRS and/or PSS/SSS) information QCLed (with CSI-RS) provided for the purpose of channel estimation/measurement of BRRS through dynamic indication of L1 (and/or L2)-level may be very efficient in a wireless communication system in which “aperiodic or on-demand” CSI-RS transmission is considered.

More specifically, a transmitter may set at least one CSI-RS (resource(s)) to a receiver in advance. Instead of configuring all types of configuration information (e.g., port number/(# of ports), scrambling ID, time/frequency RE pattern, CSI-RS (RB-level and/or RE-level) density, port subset (actually allocated port), QCLed (with CSI-RS) RS/SS information, and/or subframe period/offset (including one of an aperiodic type, a semi-persistent type, or a periodic type as a CSI-RS transmission time-domain operation) for CSI-RS measurement for each CSI-RS ID (or CSI-RS resource configuration) semi-statically, only a part of information (e.g., port number/(# of ports), scrambling ID, and/or time/frequency RE pattern) among these may be configured (e.g., through RRC) semi-statically. In this case, a transmitter may indicate the remaining information elements except the information element semi-statically configured through L2-level (e.g., MAC CE) and/or L1-level (e.g., DCI). The remaining information elements may include QCLed (with CSI-RS) RS/SS information, and may include a specific BRS/BRRS port(s), a specific PSS/SSS, CSI-RS (RB-level and/or RE-level, time-domain/symbol) density value(s), and/or information on one of an aperiodic type, a semi-persistent type, or a periodic type as a CSI-RS transmission time-domain operation, for example. Here, semi-static configuration may mean that a specific set among preconfigured candidate parameter sets is dynamically selected.

As a result, there in an advantage that a transmitter (or an eNB) is able to perform a proper (aperiodic/on-demand) CSI-RS transmission very flexibly by considering an instantaneous situation such as loading of a UE and traffic/channel condition, and the like by using CSI-RS transport resources that are preconfigured to a UE.

In this embodiment, at least one CSI-RS (resource(s)) configured to a UE in semi-static manner may be interpreted as at least one “CSI-RS container(s) each with corresponding ID”. As such, transmission of each “CSI-RS container” on which aperiodic/“on-demand” CSI-RS is carried has an advantage that efficiency of using CSI-RS transport resource is maximized such that an eNB indicates optimal beamforming and QCLed RS/SS dynamically associated with the corresponding CSI-RS on every transmission time.

As an example in which the proposed operations may be effectively applied, a UE may be configured with a specific CSI-RS resource (for BM with 1-port). The specific CSI-RS resource may be basically configured with an aperiodic, semi-persistent or periodic CSI-RS resource. Furthermore, such a CSI-RS resource for BM may be configured/indicated so that it is associated with BM-related reporting (setting) and a UE performs the best beam(s)-related reporting (periodically) in a BM process. For example, if a CSI-RS resource for BM is configured for each TRP/cell, a UE may measure the CSI-RS resources, and may report a specific beam strength-related metric (e.g., L1 RSRP) at that time along with the reporting of a specific CSI-RS resource ID(s) corresponding to the best beam(s). As a result, this may be interpreted that a BM-related operation for a neighbor cell/TRP is performed. For such an operation, each CSI-RS resource for BM may have been configured as a relatively long-term transmission and/or low (RB/RE-level) density. In this process, at least one CSI-RS resource (for BM) may have already been configured/indicated as a beam indication purpose for a specific NR-PDCCH (e.g., for each control-resource set (CORESET)). In other words, a UE performs BM-related reporting for a plurality of CSI-RS resources for BM, that is, the measurement object of BM-related reporting, and at the same time, at least one specific CSI-RS resource(s) for BM of the plurality of CSI-RS resources for BM may have been (respectively) configured/associated with a specific NR-PDCCH (e.g., CORESET). In this case, when the UE attempts (DCI) detection/reception by monitoring a specific NR-PDCCH/CORESET, the UE may be supported to attempt the detection/reception by (identically) applying reception beam setting applied when a specific CSI-RS resource(s) for BM configured/associated with a corresponding specific NR-PDCCH/CORESET is received (beam used in this case may be referred to as a ‘serving-beam’). As described above, a specific CSI-RS resource(s) for BM associated with at least one specific NR-PDCCH/CORESET (as a beam indication purpose) may be configured/indicated as a relatively short-term transmission and/or high (RB/RE-level) density.

In this case, if the signal quality of a non-serving beam (corresponding to a CSI-RS resource for BM) becomes better and thus a specific serving beam is to be substituted (beam switching/change) or a new serving beam is to be configured/indicated (e.g., for CoMP), a base station may configure/indicate/update an operation for configuring/indicating/updating such a beam indication (associated with a specific NR-PDCCH/CORESET) as dynamic indication based on MAC CE (e.g., L2) and/or DCI (e.g., L1) signaling not an RRC level. In this case, as proposed/described above, when the base station provides signaling newly configured/indicated/updated as a specific serving beam with respect to a specific CSI-RS resource for BM (not configured as a serving beam so far), the base station may configure/indicate/update the (RB/RE-level) density of a corresponding CSI-RS resource for BM as a higher value or may newly configure/indicate/update a specific time-domain operation-related parameter(s) (e.g., a subframe periodicity/offset and/or one of an aperiodic, semi-persistent or periodic type of CSI-RS transmission). For example, a base station may change an aperiodic type resource into a semi-persistent/periodic type (because it is a serving-beam) or may lower transmission periodicity (because it is a serving-beam) and frequently transmit a resource. And/or there is an effect in that a CSI-RS through the specific serving beam may be used for the purpose of an RS (e.g., tracking RS (TRS)) of a tracking purpose for measuring/estimating/deriving at least one QCL parameter, through the configuration/indication/update of the parameter(s). In order to use a CSI-RS for a TRS purpose, time-domain RS density may be configured/indicated/updated as a sufficient level so that the number of corresponding RS samples appears twice or more within one slot.

The QCL assumption different from RS/SS may be configured/indicated independently for each CSI-RS resource to at least one CSI-RS resource set to a receiver (or UE). For example, assuming that CSI-RS #1 and #2 are set to a UE, it may be configured/indicated that CSI-RS #1 is QCL-assumed with specific BRS, and CSI-RS #2 is QCL-assumed with specific BRRS. At this time, CSI-RS #1 may correspond to non-precoded CSI-RS, and/or CSI-RS for CSI-RS measurement initial step (e.g., CSI-RS #1 for hybrid CSI reporting based on CSI-RS #1 and #2), and in this case, it may be configured/indicated that CSI-RS #1 is QCLed with specific BRS. On the contrary, CSI-RS #2 may correspond to CSI-RS #2 configured for the purpose of link adaptation for improving transmission efficiency by an eNB in a state that beamformed CSI-RS, and/or a UE access a specific BRS using serving-beam and progress beam refinement sufficiently through (subsequent) BRRS, and in this case, CSI-RS #2 may be QCL configured/indicated with BRRS, not BRS.

And/or, in the case that a plurality of CSI-RS resources is configured to a receiver (or a UE), QCL assumption may be configured/indicated between a plurality of CSI-RS resources (for at least reception beam related parameters). For example, in the case that CSI-RS #1 and #2 are set to a UE, the UE may assume the QCL relation between antenna ports of CSI-RS #1 and #2 (at least reception beam related parameters).

And/or, a receiver (or a UE) may be configured/indicated with QCL assumption between antenna ports in a single CSI-RS resource. For example, in the case that CSI-RS #1 is set to a UE, the UE may assume the QCL relation between antenna ports corresponding to CSI-RS #1.

In order to support such various operations smoothly, QCL assumption with either one of BRS or BRRS may be selectively configured/indicated to a CSI-RS. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, but according to an embodiment, QCL assumption for both of BRS and BRRS may be configured/indicated to a CSI-RS, and a method of maximizing QCL RS density may also be supported together.

When an eNB indicates RS/SS (e.g., specific BRS port(s)) information QCLed for a specific CSI-RS to a UE (dynamically), the eNB may restrict QCL parameter/property to which QCL assumption is applied to a part of the numerated QCL parameters/properties.

For example, a UE may be restricted such that QCL assumption is available only for {Doppler spread, and/or Doppler shift} parameter/property. This is caused by the reason such as the case that there is a limitation in obtaining frequency synchronization only with the CSI-RS safely.

And/or, a UE may be restricted that QCL assumption is (also) available for {Average angle and/or Angular spread} parameter/property. This is because it is beneficial to reflect more stable beam with to CSI-RS reception process. Furthermore, when a beam width of CSI-RS is narrow, it may be set to a UE such that only “AS” is reflected (i.e., QCL assumption) (additionally).

And/or, a UE may be restricted that QCL assumption is (also) available for {Delay spread, and/or Average delay} parameter/property. This is because it is beneficial to reflect the QCL parameter such as BRS transmitted with wider band than CSI-RS transmission bandwidth to the CSI-RS reception process, considering the case that CSI-RS is transmitted with CSI-RS transmission bandwidth which is limited to a part of band.

5. DMRS QCL

When a UE is trying to receive DMRS-based PDSCH/EPDCCH, and the like, the channel estimation for DMRS is required, QCL assumption/signaling with a specific CSI-RS, BRRS, and/or BRS may be supported for such DMRS.

For example, in the environment that it is determined that CSI-RS density is sufficient (by an eNB), it may be configured/indicated that only QCL between DMRS and specific CSI-RS resource(s) is applied. Alternatively, when it is considered that CSI-RS transmission has aperiodic property and CSI-RS density is insufficient like NR environment, DMRS may be supported with QCL of other RS in which RS density is stably guaranteed in comparison with CSI-RS. In this case, DMRS may be QCLed with specific BRS, BRRS and/or PCRS, and direct QCL signaling indicating such QCL configuration may be supported in a UE. At this time, the direct QCL signaling may be indicated to a UE even for specific CSI-RS resource(s), PSS and/or SSS together/additionally as well as the RS.

When the specific QCL configuration/indication between inter-RS/SS is provided as described above, an inter-RS/SS QCL relationship may be defined/configured in the format in which QCL application is available between independent/separated/different RS and/or SS for specific/individual QCL parameter. That is, when a UE assumes/applies QCL, the UE may distinguish/change the applied QCL parameter according to RS/SS types that are QCLed with DMRS.

As an example, in the case that DMRS is QCLed with specific CSI-RS resource(s), a UE may be configured/indicated so as to assume/apply QCL limitedly only for {Delay spread, Average delay, Average angle, Angular spread, and/or Average gain} parameter/property. In addition, in the case that DMRS is QCLed with specific BRS, BRRS, PCRS, and/or PSS/SSS, a UE may be configured/indicated so as to assume/apply QCL limitedly only for {Doppler spread, and/or Doppler shift}. This is because there is a limitation in estimating/applying {Doppler spread, and/or Doppler shift} parameter/property based on CSI-RS only.

As another example, in the case that DMRS is QCLed with specific BRS(s), BRRS(s), PCRS, and/or CSI-RS resource(s), a UE may be configured/indicated so as to assume/apply QCL limitedly only for {Delay spread, Average delay, Average angle, Angular spread, and/or Average gain} parameter/property. In addition, in the case that DMRS is QCLed with specific PSS and/or SSS, a UE may be configured/indicated so as to assume/apply QCL limitedly only for {Doppler spread, and/or Doppler shift}. This embodiment is applicable to the case that it guarantees more stable performance to estimate/apply {Doppler spread, and/or Doppler shift} parameter/property from PSS/SSS.

As another example, in the case that DMRS is QCLed with specific BRS(s), BRRS(s), PCRS, and/or CSI-RS resource(s), a UE may be configured/indicated so as to assume/apply QCL limitedly only for {Delay spread, Average delay, Average angle, Angular spread, and/or Average gain} parameter/property. In addition, in the case that DMRS is QCLed with specific BRS(s), BRRS(s), PCRS, and/or PSS/SSS, a UE may be configured/indicated so as to assume/apply QCL limitedly only for {Doppler spread, and/or Doppler shift} parameter/property. According to this embodiment, in the case of specific BRS(s) and/or BRRS(s), QCL assumption is applicable for all (or most of) QCL parameters/properties, and simultaneously, in the case of specific CSI-RS resource(s), QCL assumption is applicable only for a part of limited QCL parameters/properties (e.g., except {Doppler spread, and/or Doppler shift}). As such, an eNB may differently configure/indicate applicable range of QCL parameter/property for each RS/SS, and a part of multiple RSs/SSs are configured/indicated to be QCL-assumed with the same QCL parameter/property, and accordingly available number of RS samples may be more increased. In this case, the most direct QCL application may be implemented in the form that a priority is provided to a specific RS (e.g., CSI-RS), but QCL application from other RS (e.g., BRS, BRRS, and/or PCRS) may be considered together through weighted average, and the like.

When assuming/signaling DMRS QCL (for the purpose of supporting non-coherent joint transmission, etc.), different QCL configuration/indication may be applied to each specific DMRS port(s). For example, in the case that a UE is indicated with DMRS ports 7 to 10 (through DL scheduling grant), the UE may be indicated such that the UE is available to be QCL-assumed with specific {BRS(s), BRRS(s), PCRS, and/or CSI-RS} for DMRS ports 7 and 8 among these, and available to be QCL-assumed with specific {BRS(s), BRRS(s), PCRS, and/or CSI-RS} for DMRS ports 9 and 10. This may be applied to the embodiment that DMRS ports {7 and 8} and {9 and 10} may be transmitted from different Transmission Reception Points (TRPs), or transmitted from different antenna panels even in the same TRP, as a matter of fact. Through this, (non-coherent) joint transmission of various forms may be efficiently supported.

The case may be assumed that specific DMRS is QCLed with specific CSI-RS, the corresponding CSI-RS is QCLed with specific BRS, and both of the DMRS QCL and the CSI-RS QCL are dynamically indicated by (separate) L1-level signaling (e.g., signaling by DCI). In this case, a timeline issue for the timing when the DMRS is QCL-assumed with the transmitted CSI-RS may occur. In other words, a timeline issue may occur that QCL with the CSI-RS transmitted on a certain time is applied to DMRS reception/measurement.

In order to solve it, in the case that a signaling that specific DMRS (port(s)) is QCLed with specific CSI-RS ID #k is received in #n SF:

-   -   A UE may apply QCL assumption based on measurement samples of         CSI-RS ID #k received in a single SF timing (it may be limited         that this embodiment may be applied only to the case that         measurement restriction (MR) is set to be ON only for the         corresponding CSI-RS ID #k), of the corresponding CSI-RS ID #k         the most recently (successfully) received among the #n SF timing         or the previous SF timings, or     -   A UE may apply QCL assumption through combining/averaging with         measurement samples of CSI-RS ID #k of provided QCLed RS/SS         (e.g., BRS(s) and/or BRRS(s)) more prior timing (on which the         same information was provided by QCL signaling), as well as         measurement samples of CSI-RS ID #k received in a single SF         timing, of the corresponding CSI-RS ID #k the most recently         (successfully) received among the #n SF timing or the previous         SF timings.

6. PCRS QCL

PCRS is an RS defined for the purpose of phase drift adjustment/phase tracking, and may be transmitted with DMRS. A DMRS per each DMRS port group in which a plurality of DMRS ports is included may be interlinked with a single PCRS (e.g., has QCL/GCL relationship). PCRS may also be referred as Phase Tracking (PT)-RS. Alternatively, in the case that PCRS is GCLed with DMRS in GCL aspect described below, DMRS may also be referred to as a Primary DMRS or a Secondary DMRS (or PT-RS), and PCRS may also be referred to as a Secondary DMRS or a Primary PCRS (or PT-RS).

It may be defined/configured that the QCL operation configured/indicated to apply in order to receive/measure DMRS transmitted/scheduled together may be applied to the QCL required for receiving/measuring PCRS without any change/in the same manner. In the present disclosure, such a relationship is referred to as “genuine co-location (GCL)” relationship. That is, GCL means the QCL relationship in which not only a large-scale parameter may be inferred between QCLed antenna ports, but also the more parameters (e.g., small-scale parameter, etc.) may be inferred. As a generalization, a UE may interpret that ‘GCLed (or having GCL relationship) ports are treated as the same port, and available to be specific time bundling and/or frequency bundling is available’. That is, in other words, an assumption of the same precoding is available to a UE by treating the ports in the GCL relationship as the same port, actually.

For example, PCRS may be defined/configured/indicated so as to be GCL-assumed with DMRS, and in this case, a UE may treat/regard the PCRS port and the DMRS port as the same port, and assume that the same procoding is applied to two antenna ports.

Such GCL concept will be described in more detail below in relation to transmission beam coordination and QCL.

And/or, a scheme is also available that the QCL required to receive/measure PCRS is divided from the QCL of DMRS transmitted/scheduled together, and separate/independent QCL signaling is provided. At this time, separately divided QCL signaling may be provided separately for each RS through DCI. Alternatively, in order to prevent aggravating DCI overhead problem, QCL signaling for PCRS may be separated so as to be provided in semi-static scheme relatively than QCL signaling for DMRS. For example, QCL signaling for PCRS may be provided L2-level signaling through MAC CE, and so on, and/or RRC signaling, and the like. For example, DMRS may be configured/indicated such that QCL assumption is available with specific CSI-RS (and/or BRS and/or BRRS), or PCRS may be configured/indicated such that QCL assumption is available with specific (serving) BRS (and/or BRRS).

In the present disclosure, (QCLed/GCLed) (specific) RS/SS may be implicitly indicated to be RS/SS for serving-cell/TP/beam, specifically. That is, a UE may be defined/configured such that the (QCLed/GCLed) (specific) RS/SS is RS/SS for RS/SS for serving-cell/TP/beam, and apply the QCL assumption therefor.

7. QCL Type

In the case of QCL type in LTE-A standard, an eNB configures RRC with QCL type B for CoMP operation such that a UE may perform dynamic point selection (DPS) operation, and an eNB configures RRC with QCL type A for non-CoMP operation such that a UE applies QCL among all RSs in a serving cell with each other.

In NR environment, an operation of being served for a virtual cell/sector formed in a specific beam direction as well as cell/TP (e.g., by analog beamforming). When such a virtual cell/sector is commonly called “beam” for the convenience of description, it is required that inter-beam CoMP operation such as Dynamic “beam” selection is also available. A particular example for this will be described by reference to FIG. 10 below.

FIG. 10 illustrates an antenna panel model in which analog beamforming is applied for each panel to which the present invention may be applied.

As shown in FIG. 10, through the transmission antenna configuration having “multi-panel antenna” structure, it may be assumed the situation that specific analog beamforming is applied to each panel, and each forms “virtual cell/sector/beam”. In such a situation that a signal transmitted from a transmitter is not dominant in a particular beam direction (e.g., from a particular panel) for a specific receiver, and signal qualities of two or more beam directions show a difference within a specific level, the performance improvement may be expected through the DBS described above.

Accordingly, in the present disclosure, it is proposed that specific QCL type B′ in which a receiver may support such an operation is defined/configured, and accordingly, the receiver may perform beam-based CoMP operation like DBS smoothly. In addition, QCL type A′ may be supported as a mode in which QCL assumption may be applied between RSs that correspond to serving cell/TP/beam.

In summarizing the proposed contents, QCL type switching may be defined/configured in the following forms.

A UE to which transmission mode x for serving cell/TP/beam is configured (or configured for New RAT operation) may be configured with one of the following QCL types below for serving cell/TP/beam by higher layer parameter, in order to decode PDSCH according to a transmission scheme associated with antenna ports (e.g., ports 7-14) in relation to DMRS.

-   -   Type A′: For a UE, the antenna ports in relation to BRS (and/or         BRRS and/or PSS/SSS) of serving cell/TP/beam is QCLed with at         least one of the QCL parameters/properties described above.     -   Type B′: For a UE, the antenna ports XX-YY corresponding to         CSI-RS (and/or BRS/BRRS) configuration distinguished by higher         layer parameter and the antenna ports (e.g., 7-14) in relation         to DMRS associated with PDSCH are QCLed with at least one of the         QCL parameters/properties described above.

The scheme may be also applied that QCL type B′ among the configurable QCL types is replaced by QCL type C′ described below, it is limitedly defined such that semi-static switching between QCL type A′ and QCL type C′ only is available, or all of QCL types A′ to C1′ are defined and a single type is selectively configured by RRC signaling, and the like.

-   -   Type C′: For a UE, the antenna ports in relation to BRS/BRRS         (and/or PCRS) of a specific beam that corresponds to BRS/BRRS         configuration and the antenna ports (e.g., ports 7-14) in         relation to DMRS associated with PDSCH is QCLed with at least         one of the QCL parameters/properties described above.

However, it is apparent that such description in relation to QCL types A to C may be modified/defined such that the QCL related proposal element proposed in the present invention is reflected in various manners. That is, when QCL type is switching by setting A′ and B′ or QCL type C that indicates direction QCL with specific BRS is supported (together/additionally) in addition to QCL type A′ and B′, in the detailed description including the applicable QCL type/property, the technical element proposed in the present invention may be reflected/substituted and defined/modified/defined.

In the present disclosure, various RSs are referred to as BRS, BRRS, PCRS, and the like, for the convenience of description, but the application of the present invention is not limited thereto, but it is apparent that the present invention may also be applied to RS of other term having the same/similar form/function/purpose of the corresponding RS.

In addition, the control information configured/indicated in a UE/receiver may be forwarded by RRC, MAC CE, and/or DCI, and a form of signaling among signaling of such L1 and/or L2 level in which the corresponding configuration/indication is provided may be defined/configured differently/independently for each individual control information.

Transmission Beam Coordination for NR and QCL

In the NR environment, single/multi point transmission may be supported for both of DL MIMO and UL MIMO. In addition, in the NR environment, a measurement assumption for QCL assumption and antenna ports may be performed. Based on this, hereinafter, intra/inter-TRP coordination transmission in which QCL is assumed between specific RSs will be described below.

1. Intra-TRP Coordination Transmission

Various antenna panel arrangement structures have been considered in the NR environment/system. A first panel model may be distinguished as a uniform 1D/2D rectangular panel array. Since a proper CSI-RS resource/port should be configured with a UE through such antenna array, an efficient closed-loop MIMO transmission may be applied based on the CSI measurement and feedback of a UE. CSI-RS port and antenna array mapping are dependent upon eNB implementation and various mapping schemes may be existed, for example, the following schemes may be exited: (1) a CSI-RS resource per panel, (2) a plurality of CSI-RS resources per panel, and (3) CSI-RS resource mapped to a plurality of panel, is mapped.

FIG. 11 illustrates a scheme in which a single CSI-RS resource is mapped per panel according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 11 shows the simplest method of CSI-RS mapping that a CSI-RS resource is transmitted in a panel and CSI-RS ports in CSI-RS resource may be QCL-guaranteed/assumed. That is, according to this embodiment, between (a part or all) CSI-RS ports in a single CSI-RS resource, the QCL may be assumed/guaranteed for at least a part (e.g., parameter in relation to average gain, delay spread, Doppler spread, Doppler shift, average delay and/or reception beam) among the QCL parameters/properties described above. Such QCL assumption/guaranteeing may be performed in the case that the same oscillator (having related component) in order to generate a signal in CSI-RS ports (included in a single CSI-RS resource or mapped to a single panel).

This may be interpreted as a single (virtual) cell operation according to the conventional art, and the single virtual cell may be associated with a UE by measuring an RS port that corresponds to Radio resource management (for the convenience of description, hereinafter, referred to as ‘RRM-RS’). According to the RRM-RS and detailed RS design for potentially aperiodic/sub band CSI-RS, in order to support a UE implementation, a proper QCL assumption is required between CSI-RS resource and specific RRM-RS.

FIG. 12 illustrates a scheme in which a plurality of CSI-RS resources is mapped per panel according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 12 may be interpreted as multiple beamformed CSI-RS based operation similar to Full Dimension (FD)-MIMO class B having multiple Beamformed (BF) CSI-RS resources. Since such a plurality of CSI-RSs transmitted from a single panel is oriented to different beam directions, it cannot say that each CSI-RS and the corresponding RRM-RS are in QCL always for all QCL properties/parameters. Similar to the definition in LTE specification, in the QCL assumption between CSI-RS and RRM-RS for this case, for example, only a part of properties/parameters such as Doppler shift and Doppler spread may be used, and this may be explicitly indicated. Since such a difference is caused by different CSI-RS mapping scheme for antenna array, NR specification should support various implementation schemes of CSI-RS antenna port mapping of different purposes properly.

FIG. 13 illustrates a scheme in which CSI-RS resource shared by a plurality of panels is mapped according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 13 may be interpreted as the shared CSI-RS resource which is mapped to a plurality of panels so as to have more beamforming gain in the CSI-RS transmitted by cooperative transmission from a plurality of panel antennas. Such a scheme in which CSI-RS port is mapped to a plurality of panels may be particularly useful for the case of intended to support SU-MIMO transmission for a specific UE in which traffic load is small. When it is assumed that a network obtains sufficient information of beamforming direction for a target UE, the CSI-RS may be used as a UE-specific beamformed CSI-RS dedicated to the UE. In order to properly support a use scenario, when QCL assumption is required, it is required to examine the QCL assumption between CSI-RS and RRM-RS and the way of definition or support of signaling for NR operation.

In summarizing the contents described above, according to a CSI-RS resource mapping method for multi-panel Transmission Point (TP), various intra-TRP coordination transmission scheme may be considered in NR. In addition, a proper QCL assumption between RS(s) for RRM and CSI-RS(s) set to a UE may be required to support the intra-TRP coordination transmission.

2. QCL Type and Signaling

In the case that QCL assumption between different antenna ports is required in NR in order to improve channel estimation performance, in the embodiments shown in FIGS. 11 to 13, different QCL types and similar semi-static configurations may be supported such as being defined in LTE specification (UE of TM 10 is configured with QCL type A or B by RRC signaling).

However, in the NR context, together with the CSI-RS transmission (vigorously discussed in Rel-14 eFD-MIMO) of aperiodic type which has been considered, in order to use efficiently in a reception operation in UE side, it is preferable to research the QCL type which is configurable more dynamically and the corresponding QCL assumption. In other words, each UE may be configured with specific CSI-RS resource(s) that has a few essential RRC parameters, but actual CSI-RS transmission may be controlled by an eNB through L1-signaling. Here, the controllable component may include actual transmission instance, time/frequency RE pattern, number of ports, applied port numbering and/or scrambling seed. Such a dynamic CSI-RS allocation and transmission may require support of more flexible QCL signaling with other RS that includes RRM-RS in more dynamic scheme. That is, dynamic CSI-RS allocation and transmission for NR may require more flexible QCL signaling support for other RS that includes RRM-RS.

3. Other QCL Parameter/Property

In current LTE specification, five LSPs for QCL between antenna ports, that is, delay spread, Doppler spread, Doppler shift, average gain, and average delay are defined. Except such existing QCL parameters, especially when analog beamforming is applied in UE side, it may be required to consider a property of a new type of arrival angle/beam for NR research.

During beam scanning/tracking procedure, a UE may select several TX-RX analog beam pair by measuring and comparing a quality of specific DL RS (for the convenience of description, referred to as ‘RRM-RS’). An eNB (or may be referred to as gNB) may select one of UE-preferred transmission (TX) beams in order to transmit beamformed CSI-RS or DMRS ports. In this case, the UE should know which reception (RX) beam receives these antenna ports among candidate RX beams such that the TX beam ID corresponding to RRM-RS port is to be signaled to the UE. In this situation, it can be said that the RRM-RS port and the CSI-RS/DMRS port are QCLed in the aspect of dominant arrival angle according to the QCL definition as below.

-   -   In the case that the LSP of a channel through which a symbol of         an antenna port is transferred is able to be implied/inferred         from the channel through which a symbol of other antenna port is         transmitted, it can be said that two antenna ports are QCLed.

The Dominant arrival angle may determine an RX beam formation coefficient. In addition, since an analog beam may not be dynamically changed on comparison with a digital beam, the Dominant arrival angle may be regarded as LSP relatively. Without QCL assumption, a UE should search a plurality of RX beam candidates, and this is time and frequency-consuming.

Accordingly, in the NR environment, a new type of QCL property needs to be considered for arrival angle when analog beamforming is applied in UE side, the reception beam related parameter described above may be defined as a new type of QCL parameter.

4. Transmission Coordination Between Inter-RS QCL and TRP

In designing RRM-RS, in order to assist RRM-RS measurement, it should be considered whether a part (e.g., Doppler shift and average delay) of QCL parameters/properties obtained from synchronization signals is QCL-assumed for RRM-RS. When a UE tracks such RRM-RS(s) once, this may be used for QCL linkage of the second level of RRM-RS for minuter beam refinement which may be UE-specifically beamformed for the UE. As described above, it is required to be indicated that CSI-RS follows QCL linkage for primary or secondary RRM-RS(s). When sub band CSI-RS is set to a UE, for example, it may be beneficial to follow QCL for other CSI-RS which is transmitted in broadband.

In the current LTE specification, a UE to which TM10 having QCL type B is configured may be scheduled to receive a PDSCH transmitted from a non-serving cell/TP as CoMP Dynamic point selection (DPS) operation. At this time, the DMRS for a PDSCH may be instructed to follow at least one of CSI-RSs configured by PQI filed in a DCI and QCL. In other words, the DMRS for a PDSCH may be configured to have QCL relation with at least one of CSI-RSs indicated by PQI field. In such a DPS operation, in the fact that an actual dynamic TRP selection is performed according to a configured CSI-RS resource (e.g., each CSI-RS resource configured for each TRP) or a dynamic beam selection (DBS) is performed in a single TRP, a similar operation to the DPS operation may be considered in NR-MIMO. This may be interpreted as intra-TRP CoMP in beam coordination aspect.

In order to properly support these kinds of various transmission strategies in NR, the DMRS for PDSCH should also be explicitly indicated to follow QCL to other RS, e.g., CSI-RS or RRM-RS, unless DMRS design for NR study is done without requiring any other QCL supports and by guaranteeing sufficient RS density within the scheduled band.

Particularly, in order to support phase compensation at UE side owing to phase noise effect, the second level of DMRS (i.e., secondary DMRS) may be transmitted to a scheduled PDSCH which is wanted to be distributed throughout a time domain like several symbols of the same subcarrier. Since such secondary DMRS is an RS transmitted to support the phase compensation at UE side, the secondary DMRS may be the concept corresponding to the PCRS (or PT-RS) described above. Accordingly, the secondary DMRS may be referred to as the PCRS (or PT-RS) or substituted by the PCRS (or PT-RS).

It may be assumed that the secondary DMRS may be QCLed with the primary DMRS for all QCL parameters/properties, and the QCL in this case may be interpreted to the GCL described above. Here, the GCL is available for time/frequency bundling between antenna ports as described above, and indicates that these are the same port efficiently. As a result, a UE may receive DMRS by assuming the same precoding between GCLed antenna ports.

In summary, the first and second DMRSs are distributed/transmitted over a plurality of symbol regions (i.e., multiple time regions, e.g., continuous time regions) in the same subcarrier region, where a GCL relationship may be indicated/configured between the first and second DMRSs. When the UE is indicated/configured with the GCL relationship of the first and second DMRSs, the UE can receive the DMRS assuming the same precoding between the first and second DMRS ports.

The GCL relationship in the embodiment described above is interpreted with DMRS (or data demodulation) aspect mainly, and may also be interpreted/described PCRS (or phase compensation) mainly. That is, in the embodiment described above, although the secondary DMRS (or PCRS/PT-RS) is used for the purpose/effect of receiving DMRS stably by increasing DMRS density, on the contrary, the primary DMRS may be used for the purpose/effect of receiving DMRS stably by increasing PCRS (or PT-RS) density.

In describing the embodiment in the above-described aspect again, the primary and secondary PCRSs (or PT-RSs) (corresponding to the primary and secondary DMRSs) may be transmitted throughout/being distributed in a plurality of symbol domains (i.e., several time domains, e.g., consecutive time domains) in the same subcarrier domain (i.e., the same frequency domain), and in this case, the GCL relationship may be indicated/configured between the primary and secondary PCRSs (or PT-RSs). When a UE is configured with the GCL relationship between the primary and secondary PCRSs (or PT-RSs), the UE may receive PCRS (or PT-RS) by assuming the same precoding in the between the primary and secondary PCRSs (or PT-RSs) ports.

In generalizing the embodiment described above, consequently, the DMRS and the PCRS (or PT-RS) having the GCL relationship may be distributed in a time domain and transmitted to a UE in the same frequency domain, and the UE may receive the DMRS and the PCRS (or PT-RS) by assuming the GCL relationship between the DMRS and the PCRS (or PT-RS) and by assuming the same precoding. At this time, the DMRS and the PCRS (or PT-RS) which are GCLed may be named according to GCL purpose (e.g., data demodulation purpose or phase compensation purpose). In the case that the DMRS and the PCRS (or PT-RS) which are GCLed may be referred to as the primary and secondary DMRSs in the case that these are in the data demodulation purpose, and may be referred to as the primary and secondary PCRSs (or PT-RSs) in the phase compensation purpose. However, the DMRS and the PCRS (or PT-RS) which are GCLed are not limited thereto, but may also be substituted by the RS (or RS name) having the same purpose/function/effect.

In conclusion, to properly support various intra/inter-TRP coordinated transmissions, DMRS QCL to CSI-RS or RRM-RS may need to be dynamically indicated, unless DMRS design for NR is done without requiring any QCL supports and by guaranteeing sufficient RS density.

It means that the GCL concept described above is available to configure/indicate specific “{frequency, time, space, and/or code}-domain bundling/aggregation”,

-   -   In the case of frequency-domain bundling, a transmitter (e.g.,         eNB) may indicate bundling to a receiver (e.g., UE) with a         subcarrier level, an RB level, an RB group (e.g., RBG) level,         and/or a sub band level, and the like.     -   In the case of time-domain bundling, a transmitter (e.g., eNB)         may indicate bundling to a receiver (e.g., UE) with a symbol         level, a slot level, a (mini-) subframe level, or a subframe         group (e.g. TTI bundling) level, and the like.     -   In the case of space-domain bundling, a transmitter (e.g., eNB)         may indicate bundling to a receiver (e.g., UE) with a port/beam         level, and the like, and the ports/beams in this case may         correspond to corresponding specific RSs and/or channels (e.g.,         in the case that the same precoder should be used for nominal         ports/beams distinguished in a transmitter.).     -   In the case of code-domain bundling, a transmitter (e.g., eNB)         may indicate bundling to a receiver (e.g., UE) with specific         other sequences (e.g., generated by different scrambling         parameters) or between other cover codes (e.g., OCC).

As such, a receiver is configured/indicated with the fact that specific (available to apply {frequency, time, space, and/or code}-domain bundling) GCL assumption is available between RSs, SSs, and/or channels, the receiver may apply the GCL assumption between RSs, SSs, and/or channels, and may improve a reception performance by {frequency, time, space, and/or code}-domain bundling. Such an operation makes it possible to configure/indicate such GCL assumption (temporarily) in a specific case for a receiver by an intension of a transmitter, although common operation is different between RSs, SSs, and/or channels, and has an advantage that various transmission flexibilities are provided and a reception performance is improved.

For example, as exemplified above, the intended operations may be different between the PCRS and the DMRS (different antenna port number may be provided) basically (e.g., the PCRS is in the phase compensation purpose, and the DMRS is in the data demodulation purpose), and in the case that configuration/indication that the GCL assumption is available is provided, the GCLed PCRS may be utilized in DMRS reception process (with the DMRS) for the data demodulation purpose, and accordingly, a reception performance may be improved.

As another example, in addition to such an operation between specific RSs, according to the GCL relationship configured/indicated by considering the relationship of “PSS/SSS/ESS (Extended Synchronization Signal) and/or BRS”, PSS may be utilized as a channel estimation reference signal of SSS, and accordingly, SSS reception performance may be improved. Similarly, in the case that BRS is also configured such that the GCL assumption is available with specific PSS/SSS/ESS, it is available to improve a reception performance of the BRS through this.

In addition, the GCL assumption may be configured/indicated such that a UE may perform bundling by GCL assumption application with respect to specific different {frequency, time, space, and/or code}-domain bundling even for the same RS, SS or channel.

For example, in the case that the GCL assumption is configured/indicated for specific time instances with respect to specific CSI-RS (resource and/or port(s)), even in the case that actual each CSI-RS transmission is (1-shot) dynamically indicated by a DCI, a UE may average/combine the measurement samples between such 1-shot CSI-RS measurement throughout the GCLed (or GCL assumption is configured/indicated) time instances. In the aspect of a transmitter, with respect to the GCLed time instances, for example, this may mean that beamforming coefficients applied when applying each CSI-RS transmission should not be changed. Consequently, the precoder applied when transmitting each beamformed CSI-RS may be transmitted in receiver-transparent manner, but a transmitter may guarantee that the CSI-RS in which same precoder is maintained/applied is transmitted in the GCLed time instances. With this, there is an effect that a receiver measures and combines the GCLed (aperiodic) CSI-RSs and secures adequate measurement samples, and through this, specific LSPs may be estimated. With the LSP estimated as such, the QCL configuration/indication described above is available with another RS (e.g., DMRS), and through this, the data demodulation performance based on DMRS may be improved.

As described above, GCL indicator (e.g., GCL indication field defined in DCI) that configures/indicates GCL may be configured with 1-bit field, and the like, and may be implemented with a “toggling” form. That is, for example, in the case that a GCL indicator transmitted while aperiodic CSI-RS transmission is triggered is ‘0’ and a GCL indicator of CSI-RS transmission (of the same ID as the corresponding CSI-RS) transmitted/measured the most recently is also ‘0’ (i.e., a GCL indicator is not toggled), a UE may apply the GCL assumption between these two CSI-RS transmission, and may perform bundling/combining/averaging operation. In such a way, in the case that the UE also transmits a GCL indicator for a subsequent CSI-RS in a form of not toggled, the UE may perform bundling for the subsequent CSI-RS continually. In the case that a GCL indicator for the subsequent CSI-RS is transmitted with being toggled, the UE may not perform bundling for the corresponding CSI-RS any more.

As such, the operation that a UE determines whether to perform/apply bundling according to a GCL indicator value (e.g., whether to toggle) indicated for the most recently transmitted CSI-RS may be limited to the scheme that it is determined whether to apply the GCL assumption by comparing (by toggling) with the most recent instance in the set in which only the CSI-RS instances indicated by the same QCL as the QCL with other RS (e.g., BRS and/or BRRS) of the corresponding CSI-RS (even in the case of the same CSI-RS ID). This is because a CSI-RS transmission QCLed with other RS (e.g., BRS and/or BRRS) may be flexibly transmitted aperiodically as described above, even in the case of the transmission by the same CSI-RS ID. Consequently, as such, a UE may be limited to the scheme that the QCL assumption is applied within the CSI-RS transmission instances that follow the same ‘CSI-RS to other RS (e.g., BRS and/or BRRS) QCL’.

Such a limited operation may be signaling-indicated to a UE in various manner such as bundling is applied by collecting the CSI-RS transmission instances of which CSI process ID indicated by the corresponding DCI field are the same in the case that DCI field is configured in the following forms, in addition to the method that bundling is applied by colleting the CSI-RS transmission instances of which ‘CSI-RS to other RS (e.g., BRS and/or BRRS) QCL’ are the same. In addition, as represented in the following Table, the way of determining the limited set may be implemented with various embodiments by the DCI field which is applied.

TABLE 4 5.3.3.1.3 Format B1 DCI format B1 is used in scheduling of xPDSCH The information below is transmitted through DCI format B1 in subframe n ... - CSI/BSI/BRI request - 3bits If an indicated value is ‘000’, CSI/BSI/BRI is not requested. ▪ If an indicated value is ‘001’, this DCI format triggers BSI reporting. ▪ If an indicated value is ‘010’, this DCI format allocates BRRS, and triggers corresponding BRI report. ▪ If an indicated value is ‘011’, this DCI format allocates BRRS, but does not trigger BRI report. ▪ If an indicated value is ‘100’, this DCI format allocates CSI-RS, and triggers corresponding BRI report. ▪ ‘101’, ‘110’ and ‘111’ are reserved. ... If this format allocates either one of CSI-RS or BRRS transmission, - process indicator - 2bits 00 : {Process #0}, 01 : {Process #1}, 10 : {Process #2}, 11 : {Process #3} ...

Only a part of examples are described in the present disclosure, but the GCL relation operation may be applied by substituting QCL by GCL (and the related definition/attribute) even for all QCL related proposed operations described in the present invention (since the GCL concept is applying more fortified properties than the QCL).

SS Related QCL Definition/Concept

PSS, SSS, and/or PBCH may be transmitted within ‘SS block (SSB)’. In excluding another signal, another signal is not excluded in the SS block. One or a plurality of SS block(s) may constitute an ‘SS burst’. One or a plurality of SS burst(s) may constitute an ‘SS burst set’. The number of SS bursts in the SS burst set may be finite. Hereinafter, how to configure the SS blocks and the SS bursts will be described in more detail.

In the NR, PSS, SSS, and/or PBCH may be defined for delivering initial access related information (e.g., symbol timing, cell-ID, required system information, and/or information for initial UL transmission, etc.). Furthermore, further discussion is underway in the NR to define other new signals/channels for required system information delivery or cell/TRP/beam measurements. Thus, several signals/channels (e.g., NR-SS, NR-PBCH, control channel, measurement RS, etc.) for initial access may be defined in the NR. In this case, the signals/channels configured/composed in the SS block may be changed according to a transmission occasion if a periodicity of each signal/channel for the initial access is different. That is, another set of initial access related signals/channels may be configured/composed within the SS block. In this regard, various types of SS blocks may be defined as follows according to a kind of configured/composed signal/channel in the SS block:

-   -   Type 1: NR-SS (PSS and SSS)     -   Type 2: NR-SS and NR-PBCH     -   Type 3: NR-SS and MRS     -   Type 4: NR-SS and control channel

The signal/channel may be multiplexed in the SS block. According to the type of signal/channel composed in the SS block, duration of the SS block may be changed. For example, in the case of TDM, the above-described Type 1 (NR-SS only) and Type 2 (multiplexing NR-SS and NR-PRBCH) may have different SS block duration. However, regardless of the type of signal/channel composed in the SS block, it may be desirable to maintain the duration of the SS block. Furthermore, considering that the duration of the ‘SS burst’ is determined by the duration of the ‘SS block’, fixed duration of the SS burst should also be considered.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating duration of an SS block and an SS burst which may be applied to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 14, considering that the duration of the ‘SS burst’ is determined by the duration of the ‘SS block’, the fixed duration of the SS burst may be preferred regardless of the type of composed signal/channel in the SS block. Therefore, it may be assumed that each type of SS block has the same duration regardless of all kinds of composed signals/channels in the SS block.

DL control signaling may be located in a first OFDM symbol(s) of a slot and/or minislot. Further, a UL control channel may be located in the vicinity of UL symbol(s) last transmitted in the slot. Therefore, it can be seen that a DL control channel and a DMRS are located in first N OFDM symbols and the UL control channel is located in last N OFDM symbols in the slot. In order to avoid conflict between the ‘SS block’ and the DL/UL control channel, the SS block may be located in the middle of the slot. Consecutive (or contiguous) SS blocks within the slot may be used to constitute the ‘SS burst’. Further, when the plurality of SS blocks for the SS burst is spread across a plurality of slots, inconsecutive (or non-contiguous) ‘SS blocks’ may be needed to constitute the ‘SS burst’.

FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating an SS burst configuration for a TDD case which may be applied to the present invention.

As described above, both the consecutive and inconsecutive ‘SS blocks’ need to be used to constitute the ‘SS burst’. Therefore, both the consecutive ‘SS blocks’ and the inconsecutive ‘SS blocks’ may be used to constitute the ‘SS burst’. In other words, the SS blocks constituting the SS burst may be located consecutively and/or located inconsecutively (in a time domain).

To sum up the above contents with respect to FIGS. 14 and 15, the following conclusion/proposal may be derived.

-   -   Considering that the duration of the ‘SS burst’ is determined by         the duration of the ‘SS block’, the fixed duration of the SS         burst may be preferred regardless of the type of composed         signal/channel in the SS block. Therefore, it may be assumed         that each type of SS block has the same duration regardless of         the type of composed signals/channels in the SS block.     -   Both the consecutive and inconsecutive ‘SS blocks’ may be         required to constitute the ‘SS burst’. Therefore, both the         consecutive and inconsecutive ‘SS blocks’ may be used to         constitute the ‘SS burst’.

Hereinafter, various techniques will be proposed, which a specific QCL parameter/characteristic acquired through reception of a synchronization procedure related signal (area/block) of the SS block or the like is applied to another RS (group) assumed/configured/indicated to establish QCL and/or partial QCL with the corresponding signal (area/block) (e.g., for beam management) to reduce reception complexity of the another RS (group) and/or enhance detection performance. Prior to various techniques, contents based on the proposed techniques will be preferentially described.

The following signal combinations may be considered for inter-cell RRM measurements for CONNECTED and IDLE.

1. Option 1: Same RS

-   -   Option 1-1: NR-SSS and/or NR-PSS     -   Option 1-2: Mobility RS (MRS)-1 (Multi-port multi-beam reference         signal multiplexed in SS block)     -   Option 1-3: Mobility RS (MRS)-2 (Multi-port multi-beam reference         signal not multiplexed in SS block)     -   Option 1-4: Mobility RS (MRS)-3 (Single/multi-port single-beam         reference signal)     -   Option 1-5: NR-SSS and DM-RS for PBCH, if DM-RS for PBCH is         supported

2. Option 2: Not same RS

-   -   Option 2-1: NR-SSS in an IDLE state; MRS-{1,2} in a CONNECTED         state     -   Option 2-2: NR-SSS in the IDLE state; NR-SSS and MRS-{1,2} in         the CONNECTED state     -   Option 2-3: NR-PSS and/or NR-SSS in the IDLE state; NR-PSS         and/or NR-SSS in the CONNECTED state, and CSI-RS     -   Option 2-4: In the CONNECTED state, the RS and MRS-{1,2,3} in         the IDLE state

At least the following aspects should be considered and results and analysis should be provided.

-   -   Cell coverage of CONNECTED and IDLE     -   Overhead (e.g., the number of resource elements, a bandwidth         (BW) used for RS mapping, and resource usage over time) of an RS         resource     -   Accuracy of an RS measurement quantity

The following effect may be considered in a multi-beam case due to IDLE mode RS option selection:

-   -   Performance in DL/UL signal reception after RACH before RRC         connection in association with associated beams acquired during         a random access channel (RACH) procedure

The CSI-RS supports DL Tx beam sweeping and UE Rx beam sweeping. The CSI-RS may be used in mode P1, P2, and/or P3.

The NR CSI-RS supports the following mapping structure.

-   -   N_P CSI-RS port(s) may be mapped for each (sub) time unit.         Throughout the entire (sub) time unit, the same CSI-RS antenna         ports may be mapped. Here, “time unit” means n (>=1) OFDM         symbols in configured/reference numerology.     -   Each time unit may be divided into sub-time units. In this case,         as a division method, a division method which is the same as         division of TDM, IFDMA, and OFDM symbol-level having an OFDM         symbol length (i.e., a larger subcarrier interval) which is         equal to or smaller than a standard/preset/reference OFDM symbol         length (subcarrier interval) may be used, but another division         method is not also excluded.     -   The/aforementioned mapping structure may be used for supporting         multi-panels/TX chains.

CSI-RS mapping options for Tx and Rx beam sweeping may be described below:

-   -   Option 1: Tx beams may be the same as each other over the sub         time unit within each time unit, but may be different over the         time unit.     -   Option 2: Tx beams may be different for each sub time unit         within each time unit, but may be the same as each other over         the time unit.     -   Option 3 (Combination of Option 1 and Option 2): The Tx beam(s)         are the same over the sub time unit within one time unit. The Tx         beam(s) may be different over the sub time unit within different         time units. For example, in terms of the number and periodicity,         a combination of different time units may be proposed. Only Tx         sweeping or Rx sweeping may be available.

One or a plurality of CSI-RS resource configurations may be configured for the proposed mapping structure.

Hereinafter, for convenience of description, a CSI-RS (whose RS name may be changed) that may be configured as a (sub) time unit type for a specific beam management purpose or the like will be referred to as a Type 2 CSI-RS and a CSI-RS which may be configured as another type (e.g., a CSI-RS type of 3GPP LTE/LTE-A) will be referred to as a Type 1 CSI-RS, and each type of CSI-RS will be described below with reference to FIG. 16.

FIG. 16 illustrates a type 1 CSI-RS and a type 2 CSI-RS which may be applied to the present invention. In particular, FIG. 16(a) and FIG. 16(b) illustrate the Type 1 CSI-RS and the Type 2 CSI-RS, respectively.

Referring to FIG. 16(a), in the case of the existing CSI-RS configuration scheme (i.e., type 1 CSI-RS configuration scheme), the CSI-RS port number and/or the sequence generation/scrambling parameter may be set and a specific/period/offset may be set (may be omitted in the case of aperiodic CSI-RS, etc.). Further, the case of the existing CSI-RS configuration scheme (i.e., type 1 CSI-RS configuration scheme) follows a structure in which a location (e.g., CSI-RS RE location/pattern) of a frequency/time resource in which the CSI-RS is transmitted at each CSI-RS transmission instance is set in advance (RRC signaling). For convenience, this is referred to as Type 1 CSI-RS as described above.

Unlike this, a specific CSI-RS resource configuration may be further subdivided by a “(sub) time unit” related configuration and a detailed operation option for an operation of a UE, etc. may be further configured with respect to the corresponding (sub) time unit. For convenience, this is referred to as Type 2 CSI-RS as described above.

Referring to FIG. 16(b), even in the Type 2 CSI-RS, the period/offset parameter may be configured like the Type 1 CSI-RS (or a scheme in which a period parameter is implicitly indicated/set through a point where the period/offset parameter is omitted and every time unit is represented/indicated is also available and for example, the CSI-RS may be configured/limited in a type in which multiple time units are consecutively (or contiguously) represented to be bursty, and this is associated with an aperiodic CSI-RS configuration and a start time of the corresponding CSI-RS burst, etc. may be indicated) and in this case, an additional (time unit offset) parameter explicitly indicating a CSI-RS detailed transmission time depending on the (sub) time unit may be together configured based on every CSI-RS transmission time indicated by the corresponding period/offset parameter. In addition/alternatively, every CSI-RS transmission time may be defined/set/limited to the start time of each time unit (as a default setting method) (for example, as illustrated in FIG. 16(b)) and a plurality of sub time units may be configured within one time unit. That is, one time unit may be divided into the plurality of sub time units. The sub time unit may be limited to be continuously configured to be only consecutive (e.g., as illustrated in FIG. 16(b)). Alternatively, parameters associated with a separate period/offset may be together configured with the separate period/offset so that each of the sub time units is more flexibly configured within one time unit (even inconsecutively/independently/separately).

FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating a QCL assumption scheme depending on a type 2 CSI-RS configuration according to an embodiment of the present invention.

A configuration of a type 2 CSI-RS type may be used for a purpose for specific (DL) beam management. For example, one type 2 CSI-RS configuration may be provided in a type to include/indicate/configure one or multiple CSI-RS resource(s) and when one type 2 CSI-RS configuration includes a configuration of multiple CSI-RS resources, it may be characteristically limited that different CSI-RS resources are not transmitted at the same time. That is, it may be limited that multiple CSI-RS resources are at least TDM and transmitted (based on each resource unit) (as illustrated in FIG. 17).

Due to an advantage of such an operation, at least different/independent (analog) beams are applied among different CSI-RS resources and CSI-RS resources to which different (analog) beams are applied are transmitted to the UE at different times, and as a result, the UE may effectively perform a beam management procedure including an RX beam sweeping operation therefor. Additionally, different/independent antenna port numbers may be set for each CSI-RS resource. Alternatively, only the same antenna port number may be limited to be set for each of all different CSI-RS resources (according to a configuration of the eNB) under a specific condition.

In such a structure, another RS/signal(s) (group(s)) and/or specific SS block index (or ID)(s) (including specific MRS-1, 2, and/or 3) which assumes/establishes QCL or partial QCL with respect to specific QCL parameter(s)/characteristic(s) (e.g., at least one of Delay spread, Doppler spread, Doppler shift, Average gain, Average delay, Average angle (AA), Angular spread (AS), and/or PAP) may be configured in the UE (in advance) ‘for each CSI-RS resource’. This may be configured in the UE through RRC signaling, MAC (L2) signaling, and/or DCI (L1) signaling. Accordingly, the UE may reduce implementation complexity and/or enhance detection/measurement performance by positively applying/utilizing specific QCL parameter(s)/characteristic(s) acquired through the QCL or partial QCL when measuring the antenna ports within the CSI-RS resource. Hereinafter, for convenience of description, other RS/signal(s) (group(s)) (including specific MRS-1, 2, and/or 3) and/or specific SS block index(s) which is QCL assumed or partial QCL assumed with the CSI-RS (target RS) may be collectively referred to as a ‘source RS (or QCL source/reference RS)’. Therefore, a QCL parameter (or LSP) of the target RS may be implicated/estimated from a QCL parameter (or LSP) estimated from the source RS.

In addition/alternatively, when there is a plurality of other RS/signal(s) (group(s)) (including specific MRS-1, 2, and/or 3) and/or specific SS block index(s) (i.e., ‘source RS’) which is QCL (or partial QCL) indicated for each CSI-RS resource, the UE may be defined/configured to apply/perform a (partial) QCL assumption operation by union (or averaging or particular weighted averaging) of specific QCL parameter(s)/characteristic(s) for a plurality of source RSs indicated for each resource. In addition/alternatively, MRS-x (where x is a natural number such as x=1, 2, or 3) may also define/configure QCL or partial QCL with the specific SS block index(s) with respect to the specific QCL parameter(s)/characteristic(s) in advance.

Alternatively, in order to support more flexible eNB implementation, other RS/signal(s) (group(s)) ((including specific MRS-1, 2, and/or 3) and/or specific SS block index(s) which assumes/establishes QCL or partial QCL with respect to specific QCL parameter(s)/characteristic(s) ‘for each CSI-RS antenna port (or specific port group)’ within each CSI-RS resource may be configured in the UE (in advance) in such a structure. This may be configured in the UE through RRC signaling, MAC (L2) signaling, and/or DCI (L1) signaling. Accordingly, the UE may reduce implementation complexity and/or enhance detection/measurement performance by positively applying/utilizing specific QCL parameter(s)/characteristic(s) acquired through the QCL or partial QCL when measuring the antenna ports within the CSI-RS resource.

In addition, when both the former CSI-RS resource-level QCL configuring/signaling scheme and the latter port-level QCL configuring/signaling scheme are supportable, the eNB may utilize additional flexibility regarding whether to provide QCL configuration/signaling for each CSI-RS resource as in the former embodiment or whether to provide the QCL configuration/signaling for each port-level as in the latter embodiment. That is, in the embodiment of FIG. 17, the QCL or partial QCL may be transformed/applied to a type configured/indicated not by the resource unit but by each port unit in the resource. In addition/alternatively, when there is a plurality of other RS/signal(s) (group(s)) (including specific MRS-1, 2, and/or 3) and/or specific SS block index(s) (i.e., ‘source RS’) which is QCL (or partial QCL) indicated for each CSI-RS port, the UE may be defined/configured to apply/perform a (partial) QCL assumption operation by union (or averaging or particular weighted averaging) of specific QCL parameter(s)/characteristic(s) for a plurality of source RSs indicated for each resource. In addition/alternatively, MRS-x (where x is a natural number such as x=1, 2, or 3) may also define/configure QCL or partial QCL with the specific SS block index(s) with respect to the specific QCL parameter(s)/characteristic(s) in advance.

Meanwhile, for the purpose of the beam management, the UE may be defined/configured to perform a report associated with the beam management purpose to the eNB. In this case, when the UE reports to a base station (e.g., gNB) index information of a p-th (e.g., p=1, 2, . . . P (settable by the eNB)) preferred (CSI-RS) port, information regarding within CSI-RS resource the corresponding port is a port may also be continuously (or according to the configuration of the eNB) reported to the eNB in a type paired with the port index information. For example, when an indicator indicating which CSI-RS resource the corresponding CSI-RS resource is referred to as a CSI-RS resource indicator (CSI), reporting contents of the UE may be reported to the ENB in a type in which two indication information is paired like (CRI, port index). In addition/alternatively, simultaneously, the UE may be configured to report a specific metric (e.g., RSRP, reference signal received quality (RSRQ), and/or CQI or a specific function similar thereto) which may represent/indicate a signal quality for the port.

As another modified embodiment of the reporting contents, the paired information may be defined/configured to be configured in a type of {CRI, port selection codebook index (or PMI)} to be reported by the UE. In this case, in order to derive the port selection PMI, a “selection codebook: corresponding thereto may be pre-defined/configured. A size of a vector corresponding to each index of the selection codebook coincides with the number of CSI-RS ports in the CSI-RS resource indicated by the corresponding/paired CRI and the vector corresponding to each index may be configured in such a type (i.e., a selection codebook vector type) in which a value of only one specific element is 1 and all remaining elements are 0.

As described above, when one type 2 CSI-RS configuration is configured/provided in a type including one or K (K>1) CSI-RS resource(s), an upper limit value for a settable K value may exist. Information regarding a (maximum) K value that may be supported/implemented by the UE may be delivered to the eNB through UE specific capability signaling during initial access and based thereon, the eNB may be limited to provide up to K CSI-Resources within one Type 2 CSI-RS configuration. The eNB may configure K CSI-RS resources semi-statically in an RRC signaling form at the time of configuring one type 2 CSI-RS based on such UE capability signaling information, etc. More specifically, a configuration/control operation may be supported in which only N (N<=K) CSI-RS resources are selectively activated through L2 (e.g., by MAC CE) signaling (and/or L1 (e.g., by DCI) and L3 signaling) among K CSI-RS resources which are RRC-configured (see FIG. 17). In this case, the UE may recognize that the remaining (K−N) CSI-RS resources that are not activated are deactivated or terminated or separate signaling for deactivation/termination may be provided/supported to the UE. As a result, the UE may be defined/configured to measure the signal quality for each port configured/included in each of N activated CSI-RS resources and compare metrics acquired through the measured signal quality and report P preferred port information and/or a metric value (for each of P preferred ports) to the eNB.

A QCL definition in the NR may be determined by considering five large scale QCL parameters/characteristics such as delay spread, Doppler spread, Doppler shift, average gain, and average delay. Furthermore, in addition to the QCL parameters/characteristics, in order to support a UE side beam forming/receiving procedure, a QCL framework of the NR may be extended to new spatial QCL parameters (i.e., reception beam (Rx beam) related parameters) as described above. Such a spatial QCL parameter (i.e., reception beam related parameter) represents the QCL characteristic for a new arrival/reception angle, in particular when analog beamforming is applied to the UE side. During the beam management procedure, the UE may select several TX-RX analog beam pairs by measuring and comparing a quality of a specific DL RS (e.g., RRM-RS). The TRP may select one of the UE preferred Tx beams to transmit the beamformed CSI-RS or DMRS ports. In this case, the UE should know which Rx beam should be configured to receive the antenna ports among candidate Rx beams so that a Tx beam ID corresponding to the RRM-RS port may be signaled to the UE. In such a situation, it can be said that the RRM-RS port and the CSI-RS/DMRS port are QCL in terms of a dominant arrival/receiving angle.

The dominant arrival/receiving angle determines an Rx beamforming coefficient and may be regarded as a relatively large-scale characteristic since an analog beam may not be dynamically changed relative to a digital beam. Without the QCL assumption, the UE has to search for multiple RX beam candidates, which is energy and time consuming.

Therefore, when analog beamforming is applied in the UE, a new type of QCL characteristic (e.g., ‘spatial QCL parameter (i.e., reception beam parameter)’) for the dominant arrival/receiving angle should be defined in the NR.

Considering the initial access-related discussion, the RRM-RS may be referred to as MRS-1, 2, or 3 and may or may not be multiplexed within the SS block. Further, the RRM-RS may be a single or multi-beam RS. In order to support reasonable UE complexity in Rx beam search/sweeping, the CSI-RS related configuration through the RRC or MAC should at least include the QCL (or partial QCL) indication for a specific MRS-x (x is a natural number, e.g. x=1, 2, or 3) or SS block index in terms of the spatial QCL parameter. In this case, the UE may assume that the PAP from the CSI-RS is a subset of the PAP observed from the MRS-x or SS block. It is considered that the TXRU used for the CSI-RS transmission needs to be at least used for signal transmission in the SS block in an SFN manner.

Thus, in order to support the reasonable UE complexity in the Rx beam search, the CSI-RS related configuration via the RRC or MAC should include a QCL indication (at least for the spatial QCL parameter) for the SS block index. In this case, the UE may assume that the PAP from the CSI-RS is a subset of the PAP observed from the signals transmitted in the SS block.

To assist QCL association between reference signal resources/ports for UE spatial QCL parameter(s) to support the UE side beamforming/receiving procedures, UE feedback and content need to be supported.

Detailed information for the beamforming/receiving procedure should be provided, and it is desirable that performance should be assessed at least from the viewpoint of the metrics below:

-   -   RS overhead     -   UE feedback overhead     -   Spectrum efficiency

The spatial parameters for the QCL in the NR describe spatial channel characteristics of the RS antenna ports observed at a receiver. Further, in the NR, the spatial parameter describes the spatial channel characteristics of the antenna port at a transmitter. If necessary, the UE may report information related thereto to the eNB.

The NR supports or does not support a downlink indication to derive the QCL assumption to support UE-side beamforming for downlink control channel reception.

A non zero power (NZP) CSI-RS resource in the NR may be at least defined as a set of NZP CSI-RS ports that are mapped to RE sets within a frequency span/duration that may be measured to derive the CSI. Multiple NZP CSI-RS resources may be at least configured in the UE to support CoMP and a multiple beamforming CSI-RS based operation. Here, each NZP CSI-RS resource for CoMP may at least have a different number of CSI-RS ports.

FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating a (required) QCL indication for a type 2 CSI-RS resource according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The QCL definition in the NR may be determined by considering five large QCL parameters/characteristics such as delay spread, Doppler spread, Doppler shift, average gain, and average delay. Furthermore, in addition to the QCL parameters/characteristics, in order to support a UE side beam forming/receiving procedure, a QCL framework of the NR may be extended to new spatial QCL parameters (i.e., reception beam related parameters) as described above. Such a spatial QCL parameter (i.e., reception beam related parameter) represents the QCL characteristic for a new arrival/reception angle, especially when analog beamforming is applied to the UE side. During the beam management procedure, the UE may select several TX-RX analog beam pairs by measuring and comparing a quality of a specific DL RS (e.g., RS port(s) for RRM, may be referred to as ‘RRM-RS’ for convenience). The TRP may select one of the UE preferred Tx beams to transmit the beamformed CSI-RS or DMRS ports. In this case, the UE should know which Rx beam should be configured to receive the antenna ports among candidate Rx beams so that a Tx beam direction corresponding to the RRM-RS port may be signaled to the UE through a related QCL indication. In such a situation, it can be said that the RRM-RS port and the CSI-RS/DMRS port are QCL in terms of a dominant arrival/receiving angle.

The dominant arrival/receiving angle determines the Rx beamforming coefficient and may be regarded as the relatively large-scale characteristic since the analog beam may not be dynamically changed relative to the digital beam. Without the QCL assumption, the UE has to search for multiple RX beam candidates, which is energy and time consuming.

Therefore, when analog beamforming is applied in the UE, a new type of QCL characteristic (e.g., ‘spatial QCL parameter (i.e., reception beam parameter)’) for the dominant arrival/receiving angle should be defined in the NR.

Considering the initial access-related discussion, the RRM-RS may be referred to as MRS-1, 2, or 3 and may or may not be multiplexed within the SS block. Further, the RRM-RS may be a single or multi-beam RS. In order to support reasonable UE complexity in Rx beam search/sweeping, the CSI-RS related configuration through the RRC or MAC should at least include the QCL (or partial QCL) indication for a specific MRX-x (x is a natural number, e.g. x=1, 2, or 3) or SS block index in terms of the spatial QCL parameter. In this case, the UE may assume that the PAP from the CSI-RS is a subset of the PAP observed from the MRS-x or SS block. It is considered that the TXRU used for the CSI-RS transmission needs to be at least used for signal transmission in the SS block in an SFN manner.

Thus, in order to support the reasonable UE complexity in the Rx beam search, the CSI-RS related configuration via the RRC or MAC should include a QCL indication (at least for the spatial QCL parameter) for the SS block index. In this case, the UE may assume that the PAP from the CSI-RS is a subset of the PAP observed from the signals transmitted in the SS block.

In regard to the CSI-RS configuration, the Type 1 CSI-RS resource (for MIMO CSI feedback) and the Type 2 CSI-RS resource (for supporting DL Tx/Rx beam sweeping) (for DL beam management) are proposed as described above.

Referring to FIG. 18, each CSI-RS resource may have a QCL assumption/relationship with a specific SS block. Further, within one CSI-RS resource, the CSI-RS ports may correspond to different analog beams. In this case, the UE may report {CRI, Port Index} preferred by the UE to the eNB for the DL beam management.

In order to measure the Type 1 CSI-RS resources for MIMO CSI feedback, the reasonable QCL signaling (e.g., QCL signaling for linking with the Type 2 CSI-RS resource and port index pair) should be at least provided to the UE in order to assist the Rx beam configuration.

That is, on the configuration of the type 1 CSI-RS resource, information indicating that the QCL or partial QCL assumption may be applied to at least one of specific type 2 CSI-RS resource(s) and/or port index (or a specific selection codebook index for the port index) within the corresponding resource(s) and QCL parameter(s)/characteristic(s) may be provided by L1 (e.g., by the DCI), L2 (e.g., by the MAC CE), and/or LE (e.g., by the RRC) signaling. The UE may reflect/apply the QCL assumption or partial QCL assumption in the Type 1 CSI-RS resource measurement based on the signaling/configuration. In this case, when information such as a specific MRS-x (e.g., x=1, 2, or 3, . . . ) and/or a specific SS block index indicated to be QCL or partial QCL for the QCL Type 2 CSI-RS resource (and/or a specific port within that resource) is present, even the information is linked/considered to be applied to measurement of the type 1 CSI-RS resource, of course. That is, the UE may consider/apply the QCL assumption/relationship between the type 2 CSI-RS resource/port and the MRS-x or SS block as well as the QCL assumption/relationship between the Type 1 CSI-RS resource and the Type 2 CSI-RS resource/port.

In this case, by a specific condition and a specific configuration, the QCL or partial QCL indication for the specific type 2 CSI-RS resource(s) and/or the port index in the corresponding resource is applied only for a purpose of a linkage indication (not for a purpose of actual QCL assumption) to limit the operation of the UE so as to apply only the QCL or partial QCL assumption for the specific MRS-x (e.g., x=1, 2, or 3, . . . ) and/or the specific SS block index QCL connected with the specific type 2 CSI-RS resource(s) and/or the port index within the corresponding resource. Therefore, in this case, the UE may not perform the QCL assumption with the type 2 CSI-RS resource/port QCL indicated with the type 1 CSI-RS resource but perform the QCL assumption with the MRS-x and/or SS block QCL indicated with the type 2 CSI-RS resource/port at the time of measuring the type 1 CSI-RS resource.

In addition/alternatively, on the configuration of the type 1 CSI-RS resource, information indicating that the QCL or partial QCL assumption may be applied to at least one of QCL parameter(s)/characteristic(s) directly with specific MRS-x (e.g., x=1, 2, or 3, . . . ) and/or a specific SS block index may be provided by L1 (e.g., by the DCI), L2 (e.g., by the MAC CE), and/or LE (e.g., by the RRC) signaling. The UE may reflect/apply the QCL assumption or partial QCL assumption in the Type 1 CSI-RS resource measurement based on the signaling/configuration.

That is, the QCL assumption/relationship with the SSB block may be configured/indicated in the CSI-RS ‘resource’ unit/level as in the embodiment of FIG. 17, and as an additional/modified embodiment therefor, the QCL assumption/relationship with the SSB block may also be configured/indicated even at the CSI-RS ‘port’ unit/level (i.e., more precisely) within each CSI-RS resource. Thus, in the embodiments proposed in this specification, although not otherwise mentioned, embodiments described in terms of CSI-RS port unit/level may be derived as embodiments replaced with CSI-RS resource unit/level, of course and vice versa.

FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating an overall DL beam management procedure according to an embodiment of the present invention. In particular, FIG. 19 illustrates a QCL relationship between the Type 2 CSI-RS resource and the SS block (or MRS-1).

Referring to FIG. 19, a beam-width of an SFN-transmitted SS block (which is QCL with the Type 2 CSI-RS resource) may be divided/segmented a plurality of transmitted CSI-RS ports within one CSI-RS resource and respective CSI-RS ports may correspond to different analog beams by gNB implementation.

In order to support an efficient CoMP operation at least, QCL indication may include a cell/TP identity associated with an SS block so that a beam operation procedure covers a multi-cell/TP scenario. This means that when a specific RS (e.g., CSI-RS) has a QCL assumption/relation configured with a specific SS block (or MRS) in the proposal, a QCL assumption/relation may be configured as an SS block (or MRS) that accompanies a specific (physical) cell-ID (and/or TP ID). In this case, for the CoMP operation support, the QCL indication does not necessarily include the ‘serving’ cell/TP identity of a UE as the cell/TP identity associated with the SS block, and may include a ‘non-serving’ cell/TP identity. This means that an SS block in which a QCL assumption/relation has been indicated with respect to a specific RS (e.g., CSI-RS) is not essentially limited to an SS block transmitted/associated from a serving cell/TP and may be extended to an SS block transmitted/associated from a non-serving cell/TP.

Accordingly, there is an advantage/effect in that a UE can incorporate/apply a specific LSP for a signal/channel tracked while it receives an SS block transmitted by peripheral cells in addition to a plurality of SS blocks transmitted by a single cell to the reception/measurement of a specific RS (e.g., CSI-RS).

Conclusions derived from the aforementioned contents may be summarized as follows:

Conclusion 1: When the analog beamforming is applied on the UE side, a new type of QCL characteristic for dominant arrival/receiving angle should be defined in the NR.

Conclusion 2: In order to support the reasonable UE complexity in the Rx beam search, the CSI-RS related configuration via the RRC or MAC should include at least a QCL indication with the SS block index for the spatial QCL parameter(s). Here, the UE may assume that the PAP from the CSI-RS is a subset of the PAP observed from the signals transmitted in the SS block.

Conclusion 3: In order to support the reasonable UE complexity in the Rx beam search, the Type 2 CSI-RS resource needs to be at least configured to form a reasonable QCL linkage with MRS-1 or SS block with respect to the spatial QCL parameter.

Hereinafter, a framework for CSI acquisition which may be applied to the 3GPP LTE and/or NR system is proposed. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and may be extended to various wireless communication systems (e.g., UTRA).

The following DL L1 (Layer 1)/L2 (Layer 2) beam management procedure may be supported in one or a plurality of TRPs:

-   -   P-1 (procedure): P-1 may be used to enable UE measurement for         different TRP Tx beams for supporting the selection of a TRP         transmission (Tx) beams/UE reception (Rx) beam(s). In general,         the beamforming of a TRP may include intra/inter-TRP Tx beam         sweeping from a set of different beams (or using a set         configured with different beams). In general, the beamforming of         a UE may include UE Rx beam sweeping from a set of different         beams (or using a set configured with different beams). A TRP Tx         beam and a UE Rx beam may be determined jointly or sequentially.         If they are sequentially determined, for example, after the TRP         Tx beam is first determined, the UE Rx beam may be determined         based on the determined TRP Tx beam.     -   P-2 (procedure): P-2 is used to enable the measurement of a UE         for different TRP Tx beams in order to determine/change an         inter/intra-TRP Tx beam(s). That is, such P-2 is for enabling a         UE to determine the best/proper TRP Tx beam(s). Different TRP Tx         beams are measured (more specifically, RSs transmitted through         different TRP Tx beams area measured), and repeated measurement         for the same TRP Tx beam is not performed. Accordingly, if P-2         has been configured, Tx beams in which RS (e.g., CSI-RS)         resources are transmitted/mapped within the same/one RS resource         set may be different for each resource. In this case, an Rx beam         used for the measurement of a different TRP Tx beam(s) may be         fixed to the same beam, and may correspond to an Rx beam         determined/selected in P-3 to be described later.

Such P-2 may be configured in a UE through RRC signaling. For example, P-2 may be configured/indicated in a UE in such a manner that a ‘ResourceRep (or CSI-RS-ResourceRep) RRC parameter’ is set/indicated as ‘off.’ In this case, the ‘ResourceRep RRC parameter’ may correspond to an RRC parameter indicating whether ‘repetition is on/off.’ If the ‘ResourceRep RRC parameter’ indicates repetition on (i.e., if the parameter is set as on), the UE may assume that a base station maintains a fixed Tx beam for each RS resource within the same RS set. If repetition off is indicated (i.e., if the parameter is set as off), the UE may assume that the base station does not maintain a fixed Tx beam for each RS resource within the same RS set. In this case, a ResourceRep RRC parameter if the RS is a CSI-RS may be denoted as a ‘CSI-RS-ResourceRep RRC parameter.’ A CSI-RS-ResourceRep parameter associated with a CSI-RS resource set may define/indicate whether repetition in conjunction with spatial domain transmission filter is ON/OFF at the gNB side.

If the UE is configured with the higher-payer parameter CSI-RS-ResourceRep is set to ‘OFF’(that is, when P-2 is configured), the UE may not assume that the CSI-RS resources within the resource set are transmitted with the same downlink spatial domain transmission filter and with same number of ports in every symbol.

In such P-2, UE measurement is performed on a Tx beam set (i.e., a beam set of a narrower range) smaller than that of P-1 for beam refinement finer than that of P-1. Accordingly, P-2 may be considered as a special case of P-1.

-   -   P-3 (procedure): P-3 is used to enable the (repeated)         measurement of a UE for the same TRP Tx beam in order to         determine/change a UE Rx beam if the UE uses beamforming. That         is, such P-3 is for enabling a UE to determine the best/proper         Rx beam. The same TRP ‘Tx’ beam may be ‘repeatedly’         measured/received using a different ‘Rx’ beam (more         specifically, RSs transmitted through the same TRP Tx beams may         be measured using different Rx beams). In this case, the         repeatedly measured same TRP ‘Tx’ beam may be a Tx beam         determined/selected through P-2. Accordingly, if P-3 is         configured, a Tx beam in which RS (e.g., CSI-RS) resources are         transmitted/mapped within the same RS resource set may be the         same for each resource.

Such P-3 may be configured in a UE through RRC signaling. For example, P-3 may be configured/indicated in a UE in such a manner that a ‘ResourceRep (or CSI-RS-ResourceRep) RRC parameter’ is set/indicated as ‘on.’

If the UE is configured with the higher-layer parameter CSI-RS-ResourceRep set to ‘ON’ (that is, when P-3 is configured), the UE may assume that the CSI-RS resources within the resource set are transmitted with the same downlink spatial domain transmission filter, where the CSI-RS resources in the resource set are transmitted in different OFDM symbols. In addition, the UE is not expected to receive different periodicity in CSI-RS-timeConfig and NrofPorts in every CSI-RS resource within the set.

The procedure P-2 and P-3 may be performed jointly (or sequentially) and/or multiple times in order to achieve the purpose of the simultaneous change of a TRP Tx beam and a UE Rx beam. The procedure P-3 may include or not include a physical layer procedure. Furthermore, multiple Tx/Rx beam pair management for a UE may be supported.

The above-described procedures may be applied to all frequency bands and may be used in a single/multiple beam per TRP.

Hereinafter, an UL beam management procedure is described. The UL beam management procedure may be defined similar to the above-described DL beam management procedure, and may be basically classified into the following two types:

-   -   U-1 (procedure): this may be used to enable TRP measurement for         different UE Tx beams in order to support the selection of a UE         Tx beam/TRP Rx beam. Such U-1 may correspond to the         above-described P-1.     -   U-2 (procedure): this may be used to enable TRP measurement for         different TRP Rx beams in order to change/select an         inter/intra-TRP Rx beam(s). Such U-2 may correspond to the         above-described P-2.     -   U-3 (procedure): this may be used to enable (repetitive) TRP         measurement for the same TRP Rx beam in order to change a UE Tx         beam if a UE uses beamforming. Such U-3 may correspond to the         above-described P-3.

In relation to such procedures, the indication of various Tx/Rx beam accord/confirmation/correspondence-related information may be supported.

UL beam management may be performed based on the following channel/RS:

-   -   PRACH     -   SRS     -   DM-RS

A TRP and UE may have a Tx/Rx beam correspondence/confirmation. Alternatively, a TRP may not have a Tx/Rx beam accord/confirmation/correspondence and/or a UE may not have a Tx/Rx beam accord/confirmation/correspondence.

A UE may be configured with the following characteristics for CSI acquisition:

-   -   CSI measurement setting (also called ‘measurement linked’) that         connect N (≥1) CSI reporting settings, M (≥1) RS settings, J         (≥1) IM settings and N CSI reporting settings with M RS settings         and J IM settings.     -   CSI reporting setting includes at least the followings:         -   time-domain operation: aperiodic or periodic/semi-persistent         -   frequency-unit for a PMI and CQI at least         -   reported CSI parameter (if PMI is reported, PMI type (type I             or II) and codebook configuration)     -   RS setting includes at least the followings:         -   time-domain operation: aperiodic or periodic/semi-persistent         -   RS type including at least a CSI-RS         -   An RS resource set(s) of K resources     -   IM setting includes at least the followings:         -   time-domain operation: aperiodic or periodic/semi-persistent         -   IM type including CSI-IM         -   RS setting and IM setting may be merged.     -   CSI measurement setting includes at least the followings:         -   one CSI reporting setting         -   one RS setting         -   one IM setting         -   In the case of CQI, a reference transmission scheme             configuration         -   That is, CSI measurement setting performs a function for             mutually connecting specific CSI reporting setting, specific             RS setting and/or specific IM setting. A UE may consider CSI             reporting setting, RS setting and/or IM setting configured             through one CSI measurement setting to be             associated/related.

RS setting may be named resource setting, and includes a signal configuration for channel and/or interference measurement. IM setting may be removed.

A UE may be configured with NW CSI reporting setting, WI resource setting and 1 CSI measurement setting. In this case, CSI measurement setting includes link.

Each L link may correspond to CSI reporting setting and resource setting.

At least the following configuration parameter may be signaled through RRC for at least CSI acquisition.

-   -   N, M and L—implicitly or explicitly indicated     -   In each CSI reporting setting, at least: a reported CSI         parameter variable, if reported, CSI type (I or II), a codebook         configuration including codebook subset restriction, a         time-region operation, frequency granularity for CQI and PMI,         measurement restriction configurations     -   In each resource setting:         -   the configuration of S≥1 CSI-RS resource set(s) (each set             corresponds to different selection from a ‘pool’ of all             CSI-RS resources configured in a UE)         -   the configuration of Ks≥1 CSI-RS resources for each set(s)             includes mapping to at least an RE, the number of ports, a             time region operation     -   In each L link of CSI measurement setting: CSI reporting setting         indication, resource setting indication, a quantity to be         measured (channel or interference)         -   One CSI reporting setting may be connected to one or more             resource settings         -   A plurality of CSI reporting settings may be connected to             the same resource setting

At least the followings may be dynamically selected by L1 or L2 signaling:

-   -   One or several CSI reporting settings within CSI measurement         setting     -   At least one CSI-RS resource set selected in at least one         resource setting     -   At least one CSI-RS resource selected in at least one CSI-RS         resource set     -   UE measurement based on an RS for beam management (at least         CSI-RS) configured with K (=a total number of configured beams)         beams and reporting the measurement result of N selected beams:         -   N does not need to be essentially fixed         -   a method of configuring and/or indicating an N value         -   A procedure based on an RS for a mobility purpose is not             excluded     -   Reporting information includes at least the followings:         -   A measurement quantity for an N beam(s)         -   Reporting content, such as a CSI, RSRP or both         -   a method of selecting an N beam         -   A subset identification method         -   information indicating an N DL transmission beam(s) (if N<K)         -   Detailed information, such as a CSI-RS resource ID, an             antenna port index, a combination of an antenna port index             and a time index, and a sequence index

A beam management overhead and waiting time among CSI-RS designs for NR beam management may be taken into consideration by taking into consideration the following possible candidate solutions.

-   -   Option 1: interleaved frequency division multiple access (IFDMA)     -   Option 2: Larger subcarrier spacing

That is, in other words, in a beam management/operation such as the above-described P-1 to P-3, in order to reduce beam operation/management overhead and latency, Option 1 or Option 2 may be taken into consideration. A main purpose of the proposed Option 1 or Option 2 is to reduce repeated transmission duration of a CSI-RS resource to a specific OFDM symbol number (e.g., 1) (i.e., this is for repeatedly transmitting two or more CSI-RS resources within a specific OFDMA symbol number).

In the case of Option 1, the purpose may be achieved by introducing IFDMA. More specifically, if the IFDMA is followed, a CSI-RS (or CSI-RS resource) is mapped in a specific subcarrier (or tone) unit within one RB, but the remaining subcarriers may be transmitted in such a manner that CSI-RS is mapped to a frequency resource in a nulling (i.e., a ‘0’ value is mapped) manner. In this case, a pattern in which a corresponding CSI-RS (or CSI-RS resource) is repeatedly is transmitted within one OFDM symbol by a subcarrier unit (this may be signaled/indicated by a base station as a ‘Comb value’ and is described in detail later) to which a corresponding CSI-RS (or CSI-RS resource) is mapped within one RB may be generated. For example, if a CSI-RS (or CSI-RS resource) is mapped to only a subcarrier having an even number (or odd number) index (i.e., in a frequency-domain) within one RB, a corresponding CSI-RS (or CSI-RS resource) (i.e., in a time-domain) may be twice repeatedly and transmitted within one OFDM symbol.

In the case of Option 2, a beam operation/management purpose may be achieved by introducing a larger subcarrier spacing with respect to a CSI-RS resource having the purpose. More specifically, if a CSI-RS having a BM purpose is transmitted, a base station may transmit the CSI-RS by increasing the subcarrier spacing of a corresponding CSI-RS resource so that corresponding CSI-RS resource transmission duration is reduced. In this case, information on the increased subcarrier spacing may be separately indicated in a UE. For example, a CSI-RS resource having a BM purpose may be transmitted in a subcarrier spacing twice greatly configured compared to other RS resource. In this case, the CSI-RS resource may be transmitted twice repeatedly within one OFDM symbol.

If such an Option 1 and Option 2 are followed, there is an advantage in that latency and overhead of a beam operation/management procedure can be reduced that much because a CSI-RS repeated transmission pattern can be transmitted within one OFDM symbol. In particular, in the case of the P-1 or P-2 purpose, in order to determine a transmission beam, a base station may transmit CSI-RSs, repeatedly transmitted within one OFDM symbol, as respective different beams. In the case of the P-1 or P-3 purpose, in order to determine a reception beam, a UE may receive CSI-RSs, repeatedly transmitted within one OFDM symbol, as respective different beams. Accordingly, faster transmission/reception beam determination is made possible.

Another aspect taken into consideration, among CSI-RS designs for NR beam management, includes the followings: For example, CSI-RS multiplexing, UE beam switch latency and UE implementation complexity (e.g., automatic gain control (AGC) training time), and coverage of a CSI-RS

Hereinafter, a DL beam management framework is proposed.

1. Resource Setting

An analog beamforming aspect needs to be taken into consideration in the CSI-RS design because a CSI-RS supports beam management for NR. Design requirements for a CSI-RS for beam management and a CSI-RS for CSI acquisition are greatly different in aspects, such as the number of ports, time/frequency density, and a port multiplexing method. Accordingly, a CSI-RS for beam management (i.e., CSI-RS type B) needs to be designed separately from a CSI-RS for CSI acquisition (i.e., CSI-RS type A). A main purpose of the CSI-RS type A is DL link adaptation similar to an LTE CSI-RS, and a main purpose of the CSI-RS type B is DL Tx/Rx beam management that does not essentially require measurement accuracy for link adaptation. Accordingly, the CSI-RS type B may be rarer than the CSI-RS type A in at least the frequency density viewpoint. However, the CSI-RS type B needs to support a larger number of RS transmissions within a slot so that more sets of {Tx beam, Rx beam} can be estimated/measured.

However, in the viewpoint of an integrated CSI acquisition and beam management framework, both the CSI-RS types may be included in resource setting and may be associated with different reporting settings (i.e., one may be associated with common CSI reporting and the other may be associated with beam reporting).

In NR, separately designing the NZP CSI-RSs of the two types needs to be taken into consideration.

-   -   CSI-RS type A: chiefly for DL link adaptation     -   CSI-RS type B: chiefly for DL beam management

In relation to the CSI-RS type B for DL beam management, it has been described that beam management overhead and latency including Option 1 (IFDMA) and Option 2 (large subcarrier spacing) needs to be taken into consideration. First, whether Option 2 has more advantages than Option 1 is unclear. Both the options have similar targets in the overhead and latency time aspect. Accordingly, if CSI-RS resource multiplexing in a frequency domain for a plurality of UEs having each different subcarrier spacing is taken into consideration, Option 2 may cause greater network implementation complexity unnecessarily.

Accordingly, Option 1 may be a target that needs to be additionally taken into consideration. However, there may be some issues that need to be clearly understood in relation to Option 1. For example, some issues may be present, such as how many comb values need to be supported, whether a comb offset is supported, how a UE will distinguish between NZP CSI-RS REs and zero power (ZP) (Null) Res within the same OFDM symbol in order to use Rx beam sweeping, such as Rx beam sweeping for P-1 and P-3.

One possible option regarding the last issue would be reusing the above agreed framework such that one resource setting includes multiple CSI-RS resources where one of resources is to be configured with NZP and certain comb value/offset, and the other resources are to be configured with ZP and independent comb value/offset to properly indicate Null REs.

It is necessary to carefully check whether CSI-RS resource multiplexing in the frequency domain, including an independent comb value/offset configuration having a proper Null RE configuration, is supported for multiple UEs.

Regarding Option 1 (IFDMA), an additional open issue including a proper Null RE configuration for supporting at least CSI-RS resource multiplexing in the frequency domain for a plurality of UEs needs to be first carefully handled.

Hereinafter, in the case where Option 1 is borrowed, there is proposed a detailed embodiment regarding an indication method of an RE configuration (NZP and ZP RE configurations) with respect to a UE if CSI-RS resources for a plurality of UEs have been multiplexed in the frequency domain.

FIGS. 20 and 21 are diagrams illustrating CSI-RS antenna port mapping for each subcarrier in a frequency domain according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the embodiments of FIGS. 20 and 21, it is assumed that a UE1 is configured with a CSI-RS port 15 and a UE2 is configured with a CSI-RS port 16. Furthermore, in FIGS. 20 and 21, an ‘arrow’ means an NZP RE/subcarrier. A ‘number’ above each arrow means an antenna port number in which a corresponding NZP RE/subcarrier is transmitted/mapped. An ‘X’ indication means a ZP (Null) RE/subcarrier.

The present embodiments, as described above, may be considered as embodiments to which “CSI-RS resource multiplexing (an independent comb value/offset configuration having proper Null RE configurations) in a frequency domain for a plurality of UEs” has been applied. A base station transmits a signal multiplexed (MUX) in such a form. The UE1 may operate in a form in which the following information is pre-configured in order to receive such a signal. In this specification, a ‘comb value (or length)’ is a value applied in a frequency axis RE/subcarrier level, and means an RE/subcarrier unit/spacing to which a signal (i.e., CSI-RS) is mapped/appears. For example, ‘comb value=4’ may mean that a signal appears/is mapped as 4 REs/subcarrier spacings in the frequency axis. Such a comb value may be extended/modified and applied to other frequency granularity. In this case, a CSI-RS resource may be transmitted to a UE repeatedly as much as a comb value within one OFDM symbol (i.e., In the case of the above example, a CSI-RS resource is repeatedly transmitted to a UE as much as ‘comb value=4’ within one OFDM symbol). Furthermore, a comb offset means the index of the first RE/subcarrier in which a CSI-RS appears/is mapped within one RB.

If a CSI-RS port is mapped to each subcarrier in a form, such as FIGS. 20 and 21, and is transmitted to a UE, a base station may configure the following 3 CSI-RS resources for the UE1 through a specific resource setting #ID as follows:

-   -   CSI-RS resource #1: an NZP CSI-RS having 15 ports (single port),         comb value=4, comb offset=0 (corresponding to the embodiment of         FIG. 20. FIG. 21 has only a difference in that comb offset=1 is         set)     -   CSI-RS resource #2: ZP (Null) CSI-RS, comb value=4, comb         offset=1 (corresponding to the embodiment of FIG. 20. FIG. 21         has only a difference in that comb offset=0 is set)     -   CSI-RS resource #3: ZP CSI-RS, comb value=4, comb offset=3         (corresponding to the embodiment of FIG. 20. FIG. 21 has only a         difference in that comb offset=2 is set)

In the same form as this example, a base station may provide an explicit configuration to a UE so that the UE can be clearly aware of the location of NZP/ZP (Null) REs. In this case, although any port 16 RE locations in FIGS. 20 and 21 are not configured in the UE1, the UE1 should not estimate/assume that such REs are “ZP (Null) Res.” The reason for this is that as shown in FIGS. 20 and 21, an NZP signal for other UEs may be transmitted through REs that have not been separately indicated/configured.

For example, assuming that the UE1 configures a fast Fourier transform (FFT) size into 1024 FFT when it receives a port 15 signal and changes a reception signal into a frequency axis, the UE1 does not configure 256 FFT, that is, ¼ of the 1024 FFT, but may configure 512 FFT, that is, ½ of the 1024 FFT (i.e., it is predicted that a signal is repeatedly transmitted twice not four times within one OFDM symbol). The reason for this is that the UE1 may predict that a signal having a 4-repeated pattern will appear by a ‘comb value=4’ indication according to a configured CSI-RS resource #1, but an NZP interference signal, such as a port 16 signal for the UE2, is also expected because an RE/subcarrier for a ‘comb value=4 and comb offset=2’ location is not separately configured. Accordingly, the UE may perform a signal reception operation by considering/assuming that a signal for other UE is transmitted by taking into consideration the deterioration of an RE/subcarrier that is not separately indicated due to interference. Accordingly, in the embodiment, although ‘comb=4’ indication is received, the UE1 may assume ‘comb=2’, and may perform an Rx beam sweeping operation, such as that CSI-RS resources repeatedly transmitted twice for one OFDM symbol duration are sequentially received by applying 2 different Rx beams.

If a base station attempts to provide a configuration supporting that the UE1 cancels the port 16 signal toward the UE2 and then applies Rx beam sweeping for the port 15 by taking into consideration a case where the UE1 has been implemented in a specific cancelation receiver form, the base station may additionally configure/indicate the following CSI-RS resource #4 with respect to the UE1 in configuration information (e.g., resource setting #ID) (i.e., the base station indicates/configures explicitly/implicitly separately from signal/resource information for other UE):

-   -   CSI-RS resource #4 (may be indicated/configured in a form in         which an interference removal purpose can be         implicitly/explicitly identified): NZP CSI-RS (for cancelation         purpose), comb value=4, comb offset=2 (configured in a form         indicating port 16 locations in FIG. 20. FIG. 21 has only a         difference in that comb offset=3 is set)

The UE1 may provide UE capability information, regarding whether it is a cancelation receiver, to a base station in advance through signaling.

If the base station does not apply MUX between a plurality of UEs (e.g., the UE1 and the UE2) and tries to transmit a signal for only the UE1, it may additionally configure/indicate the following CSI-RS resource #4 in the configuration information (e.g., resource setting #ID):

-   -   CSI-RS resource #4: ZP CSI-RS, comb value=4, comb offset=2         (configured in a form in which parts corresponding to port 16         locations in FIG. 20 are indicated. FIG. 21 has only a         difference in that comb offset=3 is set)

That is, the present embodiment corresponds to an embodiment in which a base station clearly configures that REs corresponding to the port 16 are ZP (Null) REs of an “X” indication form with respect to the UE1. In this case, the UE1 recognizes/assumes that the port 15 is set as a comb value (length)=4, and predicts that a 4-time repeated pattern will appear within one symbol duration in the time axis and may apply Rx beam sweeping using 4 (different) Rx beams (in order to discover the most preferred best Rx beam among the Rx beams). As a result, the UE1 provided with such a configuration may attempt CSI-RS reception, while sequentially applying 256 FFTs (i.e., ¼ FFT size).

Although not separately described, the configuration of an NZP CSI-RS resource for the UE2 may be performed identically/similar to the NZP CSI-RS resource configuration method for the UE1. An RE/subcarrier location corresponding to the port 16 of FIGS. 20 and 21 may be indicated explicitly/implicitly with respect to the UE2 through configuration information (e.g., resource setting #ID).

An example in which a CSI-RS resource is configured using resource setting has been described, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The amendments of various explicit/implicit configuration/indication/signaling for supporting the implementation of “CSI-RS resource multiplexing in the frequency domain for a plurality of UEs (independent comb value/offset configuration having proper Null RE configurations)” proposed in the present invention may be construed as being included in the spirit of the present invention.

For example, in the examples, a method in which a base station configures only information on an NZP CSI-RS corresponding to the CSI-RS resource #1 with respect to a UE, but simply notifies a UE of the number of repeated patterns (or a maximum number of repeated patterns) (through a parameter value) regarding whether the UE can expect/use even how many repeated pattern within one OFDM symbol length/interval as information on a ZP (Null) RE. That is, in the examples such as FIGS. 20 and 21, a base station may configure an NZP CSI-RS as ‘comb value (length)=4’ and at the same time may provide a UE with related information, such as “(maximum) 2 repeated patterns are generated (within one OFDM symbol length) (or Rx beam sweeping in which different Rx beam candidates of up to 2 are taken into consideration may be applied).” In this case, if the number of repeated patterns is notified in a parameter form, the base station may set a parameter value corresponding to the number of repeated patterns so that it indicates ‘2’, and may notify the UE of the parameter value.

And/or the base station may separately provided a UE with information (in a specific parameter value form) regarding that how many NZP CSI-RS transmission REs for other UE are additionally present (within a corresponding comb length/value). For example, in the case of the examples of FIGS. 20 and 21, a base station may provide the UE1 with information, explicitly/implicitly indicating that an additional 1 NZP (interference) RE (e.g., port 16 transmission RE for the UE2) is present every ‘comb value/length=4’ within ‘comb value/length=4’. In this case, if the number of NZP CSI-RS transmission REs that are additionally present is notified in a parameter form, the base station may set a parameter value, corresponding to a corresponding RE number, to ‘1’, and may notify the UE of the parameter value.

As another technology proposed in this specification, a UE may provide a base station with UE capability signaling regarding that the UE can perform beam sweeping procedure to which how many (maximum) RX beam candidates have been applied (within one OFDM symbol). In this case, the base station should provide the configuration of a form not having a problem in a relevant UE operation by taking into consideration the UE capability signaling (i.e., the UE does not expect the provision of a configuration getting out of UE capability indicated through the UE capability signaling).

For example, if a UE has transmitted, to a base station, UE capability signaling of a form, such as ‘a maximum of 2 Rx beam candidates may be used/applied to a sweeping procedure within one OFDM symbol’, the base station may set ‘comb length/value=2’ by taking this into consideration. In this case, the UE may not expect that ‘comb length/value=4.’ Alternatively, in the embodiments of FIGS. 20 and 21, as described above, the base station may configure ‘comb length/value=4’ in a UE. In this case, the UE may assume/predict that at least one different NZP interference RE is present within each comb length/interval.

And/or the UE capability signaling may be signaled/supported in a form, such as that a ‘comb length/value is clearly configured up to a specific length/value (has been implemented)’ (i.e., may be signaled/supported to include a maximum comb length/value). And/or in order to incorporate an operation similar to the above description, although a length/value greater than a (maximum) length/value included in the UE capability signaling is configured in a UE, as in the port 16 of FIGS. 20 and 21, another NZP interference RE is mixed. As a result, UE capability information may be signaled/supported in a form that the quarantee/support of beam sweeping application as Rx beam candidates of a configured length/value ‘less’ is expected.

And/or the following information may be supported so that it is forwarded to a base station in the UE capability signaling of a UE:

-   -   a total number of Rx beam candidates (e.g., 8) of a UE, and/or     -   Information related to what the Rx beam candidates can be         grouped into how many groups (e.g., 8 Rx beam candidates are         grouped into two groups, each one including four Rx beam         candidates) (the purpose of the grouping includes the purpose of         delivering information associated with a group, such as that a         great change in the power range of AGC setting may be expected         when sweeping between groups is applied as Rx beam sweeping is         performed, for example, if each group is applied to a different         antenna panel),

As a result, when a base station receives additional information, such as the latter example (i.e., 8 Rx beam candidates are grouped into two groups, each one including four Rx beam candidates), through UE capability signaling, for example, the base station configures a CSI-RS to which ‘comb value/length=4’ has been applied, but may provide a UE with a CSI-RS configuration across 2 OFDM symbols in order to support sweeping for the total of 8 Rx beams (i.e., 2 candidate beam groups). In this case, each of the 2 candidate beam groups may be mapped to 2 OFDM symbols. In order to guarantee the AGC setting time of the UE, the base station may configure the OFDM symbols to which the candidate beam groups are mapped so that they are contiguously disposed in the time axis (i.e., configure the candidate beam groups so that they are contiguously transmitted in the time axis). And/or by taking into consideration that such a UE operation may occur, the base station may provide the UE with a CSI-RS configuration for two or more (e.g., 3) (contiguous) OFDM symbols. In this case, the UE may properly select 8 RX beam candidates with respect to a total of 12 (=comb value/length(4)*OFDM symbol number(3)) repeated patterns, and may apply them to an Rx beam sweeping process.

Referring back to FIG. 19, a DL beam management procedure may be performed in two steps. A TRP(s) and a UE may have a wide/coarse beam (e.g., group of beams) alignment using an SS burst and/or an MRS, and may discover the best TRP Tx beam(s) and the UE Rx beam(s) using the CSI-RS type B for beam management. In this case, a CSI-RS resource for beam management may be mapped to a wide/coarse beam (i.e., group of beams) so that finer Tx beam(s) selection and reporting can be performed through antenna port selection within a CSI-RS.

The three options for CSI-RS mapping for Tx and Rx beam sweeping have been proposed. However, in relation to the three options, it is sufficient to support only the following Option 1 in order to support the identified DL beam management procedures P-1, P-2 and P-3.

-   -   Option 1:

1) A Tx beam(s) is the same across sub-time units within each time unit.

2) A Tx beam(s) is different across time units

In relation to this, P-3 may be supported by configuring a plurality of OFDM symbols and/or a single CSI-RS resource in which potential comb value setting has been configured. P-2 may be supported by configuring a plurality of CSI-RS resources, each one configured as one OFDM symbol. Furthermore, P-1 may be supported by a combination of P-2 and P-3 in which a plurality of CSI-RS resources configured as a plurality of OFDM symbol, respectively, has been configured.

2. Measurement Setting

CSI-RS measurement is necessary to select the best TRP Tx beam and/or the UE Rx beam. In Tx beam selection, an RS resource is selected based on RSRP or CQI similar to CSI-RS resource indicator (CRI) selection as in LTE eFD-MIMO. Meanwhile, in UE Rx beam selection, a TRP needs to be aware of the number of UE beam candidates, and does not need to be aware of a UE Rx beam coefficient and whether a UE Rx beam has been changed.

In the viewpoint of a DL beam management framework, measurement setting for beam management also includes link. Each L link configures an association between reporting setting and resource setting for at least beam management.

3. Reporting Setting

A beam management procedure may be understood as a special case of a CSI acquisition procedure. However, reporting content for beam management may be different from reporting content for CSI acquisition. For example, CRI and/or port index reporting may be necessary for beam management not having PMI/RI reporting. Furthermore, beam strength-related metrics (e.g., metric of an RSRP or CQI type) may need to be reported together, but a purpose thereof may not include DL link adaptation, so reporting granularity or content thereof may be different. Furthermore, the P-3 beam management procedure does not require CRI and/or port index reporting, but may require or may not require the reporting of an RSRP (or CQI) type in order to determine whether a new Tx beam may be used for P-3. In the case of an integrated framework, it is preferred to support beam management and CSI collection using the same resource/measurement/reporting settings, but a specific essential restriction to measurement/reporting setting may be taken into consideration in order to avoid an unwanted combination of them.

Beam reporting of a DL beam management purpose may be included in reporting setting, for example,

-   -   P-1 and P-2 may be supported by resource, reporting and         measurement settings.     -   P-3 may be supported by resource and measurement settings.

FIG. 22 is a flowchart illustrating a CSI reporting method of a UE according to an embodiment of the present invention. The description of the embodiments described above in relation to this flowchart may be applied identically/similarly, and a redundant description is omitted.

First, a UE may receive, from a base station, CSI-RS resource configuration information (e.g., the above-described resource setting #ID) for receiving a CSI-RS resource (S2210).

Next, the UE may receive (at least one) CSI-RS resource based on the CSI resource configuration information (S2220).

Next, the UE may report, to the base station, CSI generated based on the (at least one) CSI-RS resource (S2230).

If the repeated transmission of the same CSI-RS resource has been configured in the UE, the CSI-RS resource configuration information may include information on the location of a subcarrier (or may be substituted with an RE) to which the same CSI-RS resource is mapped.

More specifically, in an embodiment, the indication information may include first indication information for the location of a subcarrier to which the same (NZP) CSI-RS resource is mapped, second indication information for the location of a subcarrier to which a ZP (Null) CSI-RS resource is mapped and/or third indication information for the location of a subcarrier to which a (NZP) CSI-RS resource for a different UE is mapped. The first indication information may include offset information of the first subcarrier (e.g., comb offset) to which the same CSI-RS resource is mapped and/or subcarrier spacing information (e.g., comb value) to which the same CSI-RS resource is mapped. The second indication information may include offset information of the first subcarrier (e.g., comb offset) to which a ZP CSI-RS resource is mapped and/or subcarrier spacing information (e.g., comb value) to which a ZP CSI-RS resource is mapped. The third indication information may include offset information (e.g., comb offset) of the first subcarrier to which a CSI-RS resource for a different UE is mapped and/or subcarrier spacing information (e.g., comb value) to which a CSI-RS resource for a different UE is mapped.

The same CSI-RS resource may be repeatedly transmitted for specific time duration as much as spacing between the remaining subcarriers except the subcarrier to which a ZP CSI-RS resource is mapped. In this case, the specific time duration may be one OFDM symbol duration. For example, if the spacing (i.e., comb value/length) between the remaining subcarriers except the subcarrier to which a ZP CSI-RS resource is mapped is indicated as 2 by indication information, the same CSI-RS resource may be transmitted twice repeatedly within one OFDM symbol duration.

If there is a subcarrier not separately indicated by indication information, a UE may assume that a NZP CSI-RS resource for a different UE has been mapped to the corresponding subcarrier.

Furthermore, as another embodiment, the indication information is information on the location of the subcarrier to which the same CSI-RS resource is mapped, and may explicitly indicate the number of times that the same CSI-RS resource is repeated within one OFDM symbol. Furthermore, the indication information may additionally indicate the number of times that a ZP CSI-RS resource and/or a CSI-RS resource for a different UE are repeated within one RB.

Furthermore, although not shown in this flowchart, the UE may receive the same CSI-RS resource, repeatedly transmitted within the specific time duration, using different candidates of reception beam, and may select at least one candidate of reception beam among the candidates of reception beam based on a result of the reception (i.e., perform the P-3 BM procedure). To this end, the UE may previously transmit, to the base station, information related to a maximum number of its available candidates of reception beam through signaling (e.g., UE capability signaling). In this case, the base station may determine the number of times that the same CSI-RS resource is repeatedly transmitted based on the information on the maximum number of candidates of reception beam received from the UE. For example, the base station may set the repeated transmission number of a CSI-RS to the maximum number of candidates of reception beam or less.

General Apparatus to which the Present Invention May be Applied

FIG. 23 is a block diagram of a wireless communication device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 23, the wireless communication system includes a base station 2310 and a plurality of terminals (or UEs) 2320 located within the region of coverage of the BS 2310.

The BS 2310 includes a processor 2311, a memory 2312, and a radio frequency (RF) unit 2313. The processor 2311 implements functions, processes and/or methods proposed in above-describes. Layers of radio interface protocols may be implemented by the processor 2311. The memory 2312 may be connected to the processor 2311 and stores various types of information for driving the processor 2311. The RF unit 2313 may be connected to the processor 2311 and transmits and/or receives a radio signal.

The UE 2320 includes a processor 2321, a memory 2322 and an RF unit 2323. The processor 2321 implements the proposed functions, processes and/or methods proposed in above-described embodiments. Layers of radio interface protocols may be implemented by the processor 2321. The memory 2322 may be connected to the processor 2321 and stores various types of information for driving the processor 2321. The RF unit 2323 may be connected to the processor 2321 and transmits and/or receives a radio signal.

The memory 2312, 2322 may be located inside or outside the processor 2311, 2321 and may be connected to the processor 2311, 2321 by various known means. Furthermore, the base station 2310 and/or the UE 2320 may have a single antenna or multiple antennas.

The aforementioned embodiments are achieved by combination of structural elements and features of the present invention in a predetermined manner. Each of the structural elements or features should be considered selectively unless specified separately. Each of the structural elements or features may be carried out without being combined with other structural elements or features. Also, some structural elements and/or features may be combined with one another to constitute the embodiments of the present invention. The order of operations described in the embodiments of the present invention may be changed. Some structural elements or features of one embodiment may be included in another embodiment, or may be replaced with corresponding structural elements or features of another embodiment. Moreover, it will be apparent that some claims referring to specific claims may be combined with another claims referring to the other claims other than the specific claims to constitute the embodiment or add new claims by means of amendment after the application is filed.

Meanwhile, the expression of ‘A and/or B’ used in this specification may be construed as meaning at least one of A and B.

An embodiment of the present invention may be implemented by various means, for example, hardware, firmware, software or a combination of them. In the case of implementations by hardware, an embodiment of the present invention may be implemented using one or more application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), digital signal processors (DSPs), digital signal processing devices (DSPDs), programmable logic devices (PLDs), field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), processors, controllers, microcontrollers, microprocessors, etc.

In the case of implementations by firmware or software, an embodiment of the present invention may be implemented in the form of a module, procedure or function for performing the aforementioned functions or operations. Software code may be stored in the memory and driven by the processor. The memory may be placed inside or outside the processor and may exchange data with the processor through a variety of known means.

It is evident to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be materialized in other specific forms without departing from the essential characteristics of the present invention. Accordingly, the detailed description should not be construed as being limitative from all aspects, but should be construed as being illustrative. The scope of the present invention should be determined by reasonable analysis of the attached claims, and all changes within the equivalent range of the present invention are included in the scope of the present invention.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The present invention applied to a 3GPP LTE/LTE-A/NR system is primarily described as an example, but may be applied to various wireless communication systems in addition to the 3GPP LTE/LTE-A/NR system. 

The invention claimed is:
 1. A method for performing, by a user equipment (UE), a beam-related reporting in a wireless communication system, the method comprising: receiving, from a base station, resource setting information, wherein the resource setting information includes a plurality of resource configurations for a plurality of channel state information-reference signal (CSI-RS) resources, with each resource configuration corresponding to each CSI-RS resource, wherein the plurality of CSI-RS resources comprise (i) a non-zero power CSI-RS resource, (ii) a zero power CSI-RS resource, and (iii) a non-zero power CSI-RS resource for interference, wherein based on the plurality of CSI-RS resources being configured for a beam management, each of the plurality of resource configurations includes indication information for a subcarrier location of each CSI-RS resource, and wherein a resource configuration corresponding to the non-zero power CSI-RS resource for interference includes an indicator indicating that the non-zero power CSI-RS resource for interference is related to interference cancellation; receiving, from the base station, the plurality of CSI-RS resources based on the resource setting information, wherein the plurality of CSI-RS resources are repeatedly received via different reception (RX) beam candidates of the UE; and transmitting, to the base station, a beam-related report generated based on the plurality of CSI-RS resources.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the indication information comprises (i) offset information of a first subcarrier to which each CSI-RS resource is mapped and (ii) subcarrier spacing information to which each CSI-RS resource is mapped.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the offset information is configured differently for each CSI-RS resource.
 4. The method of claim 3, wherein the subcarrier spacing information is configured based on a maximum number of the RX beam candidates.
 5. The method of claim 2, wherein the plurality of CSI-RS resources are received repeatedly within specific time duration.
 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the specific time duration is one orthogonal frequency division multiple (OFDM) symbol duration.
 7. The method of claim 6, further comprising: selecting at least one RX beam among the different RX beam candidates based on the reception result.
 8. The method of claim 7, further comprising: transmitting, to the base station, capability information including information for a maximum number of the different RX beam candidates.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein a number of times that the plurality of CSI-RS resources are received repeatedly within the specific time duration is determined based on the maximum number of the different RX beam candidates.
 10. The method of claim 2, wherein a number of times that the plurality of CSI-RS resources are repeated within one orthogonal frequency division multiple (OFDM) symbol is determined based on the subcarrier spacing information.
 11. The method of claim 1, wherein the non-zero power CSI-RS resource for interference is a CSI-RS resource configured for a different UE.
 12. A user equipment (UE) configured to perform a beam-related reporting in a wireless communication system, the UE comprising: a radio frequency (RF) transceiver; and a processor controlling the RF transceiver, wherein the processor is configured to: receive, from a base station via the RF transceiver, resource setting information; wherein the resource setting information includes a plurality of resource configurations for a plurality of channel state information-reference signal (CSI-RS) resources, with each resource configuration corresponding to each CSI-RS resource, wherein the plurality of CSI-RS resources comprise (i) a non-zero power CSI-RS resource, (ii) a zero power CSI-RS resource, and (iii) a non-zero power CSI-RS resource for interference, wherein based on the plurality of CSI-RS resources being configured for a beam management, each of the plurality of resource configurations includes indication information for a subcarrier location of each CSI-RS resource, and wherein a resource configuration corresponding to the non-zero power CSI-RS resource for interference includes an indicator indicating that the non-zero power CSI-RS resource for interference is related to interference cancellation; and receive, from a base station via the RF transceiver, the plurality of CSI-RS resources based on the resource setting information, wherein the plurality of CSI-RS resources are repeatedly received via different reception (RX) beam candidates of the UE; and transmit, to the base station via the RF transceiver, a beam-related report generated based on the plurality of CSI-RS resources.
 13. The UE of claim 12, wherein the plurality of CSI-RS resources are received repeatedly within specific time duration.
 14. The UE of claim 12, wherein the indication information comprises (i) offset information of a first subcarrier to which each CSI-RS resource is mapped and (ii) subcarrier spacing information to which each CSI-RS resource is mapped.
 15. The UE of claim 14, wherein the offset information is configured differently for each CSI-RS resource. 